IOC Sub-Commission for the Western Pacific (WESTPAC)
Advancing knowledge and cooperation for a healthy ocean and prosperous society
2024 Photo Competition on Coral Reef Restoration
Call for entries now open!
Entries should convey contextual information pertaining to coral reef restoration actions, related citizen science, and ocean literacy activities. Photos should attract and engage public attention, evoking thoughts and emotions that motivate positive behavioural changes towards achieving the UN 2030 Sustainable Development Goals, as well as the vision of the UN Ocean Decade for Sustainable Development — ‘The science we need for the ocean we want!’
The Competition is open to all who wish to contribute their work to this event that aims to illustrate the captivating beauty of coral reef ecosystem and inspires concrete actions in the Western Pacific.
Photo Competition Categories and Prizes
The competition consists of the following three categories. Each applicant can only join in one category and submit one photo. The winners will be awarded cash prizes and certificates.
I. Youth competition: for those under 25 years of age as of 1 April, 2024
First prize winner will receive 500 USD, and the second and third prize winners will receive 200 USD each
II. Open competition: for those who will be older than 25 years of age after 1 April, 2024
First prize winner will receives 700 USD, and the second and third prize winners will receive 300 USD each
III. Special prize for the participants in the 2nd UN Ocean Decade Regional Conference & 11th WESTPAC International Marine Science Conference (22-25 April, 2024, Bangkok, Thailand)
First prize winner will receives 300 USD, and the second and third prize winners will receive 100 USD each
* More information on the conference is available here.
Digital Image Requirements
- The photo shall be taken in the Western Pacific.
- Each Image should be submitted in JPEG format in a minimum dimension of 3,000 pixels. A high-resolution version of the photograph may be requested for exhibition and relevant purpose.
- Each image should be submitted with a maximum 200-word caption in English explaining the story behind the image that relevant to coral reef restoration, indicating where and when the image was taken, entry must include proper credit to the photographer(s)
Competition Period
The Competition begins on 24 January 2024, and closes at 11.59 p.m. (Bangkok time, GMT+7) 15 March 2024. The final announcement of winners will be made on 25 April 2024 at the closing ceremony of the 2nd UN Ocean Decade Regional Conference & 11th WESTPAC International Marine Science Conference.
Image Rights
Entrant shall guarantee that he/she owns the copyright of the submitted image. By entering the Competition, each entrant grants to the Photo Competition organizers (IOC/WESTPAC, Chulalongkorn University, the Department of Marine and Coastal Resources, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, Thailand, and Valeura Energy Inc.) a non-exclusive, non-irrevocable copyright to reproduce, publish, and display submitted images with credits to the photographer, for media coverage and promotional materials of the event and future competitions, and for science communication and educational activities across social medias.
Submission
Submit the image in required format with a complete Entry Form to iocwestpac.photo2024@gmail.com by 11.59 p.m. (Bangkok time, GMT+7) 15 March, 2024.
Additional Information
The competition will be judged by a panel of experienced experts including photographers, scientists and marine resource managers. The panel reserve the right not to award prize should there be insufficient entries. The panel’s decision is final, and no correspondence will be entered into.