Students across the nation invited to enter by May 7

MYSTIC, Conn. (April 1, 2010) – The North American Marine Environment Protection Association (NAMEPA) and Immersion Learning™ – a division of Sea Research Foundation, Inc. – are calling all artists for their second annual national marine art contest, this year themed “Mariners help save our seas”. Students may submit their creations through May 7.

Submissions should focus on the marine environment and the work mariners—those who work on ships—do to protect it. Each entry must be an original, two-dimensional piece done on 22-inch by 28-inch white poster board.

“Last year’s contest was a tremendous success,” said NAMEPA Founding Chairman Clay Maitland. “It attracted the attention of the International Maritime Organization, the United States Coast Guard and the global maritime community. Children are our future, and this art contest gives them a voice in that future.”

The art contest is open to students ages 5 to 13 in schools and at Immersion sites in the U.S., Canada and Mexico, including Boys & Girls Clubs and other after-school settings. Immersion Learning is a dynamic, hands-on science education program that provides schools and informal learning organizations with the opportunity to host interactive science experiences for students in grades 4 through 8.

“We are excited to collaborate with NAMEPA on this contest once again,” said Dr. Stephen M. Coan, president and CEO of Sea Research Foundation. “NAMEPA’s efforts directly align with our mission to protect the ocean environment. This contest provides the opportunity to build upon our invaluable partnership while getting students across the nation to learn more about the important work mariners do in carrying more than 90 percent of the world’s materials and in protecting our oceans.”
Twelve finalists will be selected by May 21, and their artwork will be featured on immersionlearning.org, as well as at Mystic Aquarium & Institute for Exploration as part of the World Oceans Day celebration in June. Finalists will also receive a signed photo of famed oceanographer Dr. Robert Ballard and a letter of appreciation.

The winning artist will receive a Mystic Aquarium Animal Adoption Kit, 16-inch plush beluga whale and a signed book and photograph from Dr. Ballard. Copies of the winning poster will be distributed to global maritime industry outlets, including the International Maritime Organization, which is an agency of the United Nations and the regulatory body for the industry.
For complete contest rules and guidelines, go to immersionlearning.org.

About NAMEPA

The North American Marine Environment Protection Association was officially launched in 2007.  In keeping with the mission of MEPAs worldwide, its aim is to increase environmental awareness and motivation of the human element within shipping and land-based industries that have a vested interest in preservation of the marine environment. Specifically, NAMEPA has the goal of educating the wider public and school communities about the critical importance of the world’s oceans to mankind and the maritime industry’s role and actions to preserve it. NAMEPA is a maritime industry led initiative to “Save the Seas”, and welcomes members who share this mission.  For more information, go to www.namepa.net.

About Immersion Learning™

Immersion Learning™ was founded by Dr. Robert Ballard and Dr. Stephen Coan in 2002. Through live webcasts from scientific expeditions, hands-on activities and an engaging Web site, this non-profit science education organization brings ocean adventures and discoveries from Mystic Aquarium & Institute for Exploration, the University of Rhode Island and the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration to more than 50,000 kids in classrooms, after-school settings such as Boys & Girls Clubs, and other informal learning arenas each year.

About Sea Research Foundation, Inc.

Mystic Aquarium, Institute for Exploration and Immersion Learning™ are divisions of Sea Research Foundation, Inc., a non-profit 501 (c)3 organization in Connecticut. The mission of Sea Research is to inspire people to care for and protect our ocean planet through education, research and exploration.