Iowa Water Essay and Photography Contest

To facilitate public discussion on Iowa’s water quality and promote sound water-quality policy decisions, the Iowa Policy Project (IPP) wants to gather Iowans’ stories and views on this issue. IPP is requesting short, passionate essays from Iowans about Iowa’s water or photos that tell their story.
 
Essay Submissions

We would like original vignettes on water quality from Iowans with a variety of backgrounds, ages, professions and interests. Writers or photographers for this project may be anyone: farmers, water-quality monitors, legislators, students, seniors, researchers, advocates, business representatives, water treatment plant operators, fishers and boaters. Whatever their background, participants will share a common characteristic – they will be people who have thought carefully about Iowa’s water. The essays should be personal and could be written from a variety of angles – a person’s love for fishing, a desire to improve our water for future generations, a particular water quality battle she or he waged, an action she or he took to improve our water. Whatever the author’s take, we ask that he or she supplement essay submissions with an entirely separate short paragraph describing an idea, action or policy recommendation for improving Iowa’s water quality.

We will accept essays in two categories: 1) fewer than 500 words, including poetry, and 2) between 500 and 1,000 words. Prizes will be awarded to the top three submissions in each category – first prize will be $500; second, $250; and third $100. All authors must sign a statement attesting that the submitted work is their own and that no copyright or privilege is being violated by submission of the work. Essays may be submitted in printed form, but must also be submitted electronically in a Microsoft Word file.

Photography Submissions

We will be accepting black and white photographs featuring Iowa water. As with the essays, we are interested in photographs that illustrate the many aspects of Iowa’s water. The photographs could capture the beauty of our water, highlight the need for improvement, or display its multiple residential, commercial or recreational uses.

We will award prizes for top three photographs – first prize will be $500; second, $250; and third $100. Those submitting photos must sign a statement attesting that the work is their own and that no copyright or privilege is being violated by submission of the work. Photographic prints may be submitted, but all submissions should include a digital JPEG file at a resolution of 300 ppi or above.

Contest Details

We will combine several essays, recommendations, and photographs (including the winners as well as other submissions) in a pamphlet with an introduction about Iowa’s water quality and water quality policy. The pamphlet would be printed by the Iowa Policy Project and distributed for use by the media, public, other Iowa organizations and decision makers. Additionally, the Iowa Policy Project may seek to place some individual essays in Iowa newspapers or magazines. We hope this contest and the resulting publication facilitates discussion and ultimately advances policy that will improve Iowa’s water quality.
 
Essays and photographs should be submitted by July 11, 2008. Iowa Policy Project staff may edit the essays. The Iowa Policy Project would retain the nonexclusive right to use all submissions in any manner, though authors would retain the right to use their own submissions as well and would be encouraged to place their writings or photos elsewhere.

Please mail or email your submission to:

Teresa Galluzzo, Research Associate, Iowa Policy Project, 120 N. Dubuque Street #208, Iowa City, IA 52245 or tgalluzzo@iowapolicyproject.org. Questions may be addressed to Teresa Galluzzo at 319.338.0773 or by email.