Student video entry registration open for National Geographic Slingshot Challenge

The National Grraphic Society is taking submissions from Texas teachers, middle and high school students between the ages of 13 18 years old for the National Geographic Slingshot Challenge video contest . Participants in the challenge can receive up to $10,000 in funding by creating a one minute video for the competition.

Kelly Hibbeler Albus , Ph.D., Texas A&M AgriLife Research scientist for the Texas Water Resources Institute , received National Geographic funding support to serve as the Slingshot Challenge Supporter for Texas for 2023 2024. TWRI is a unit of AgriLife Research, the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service and the Texas A&M College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.

Interested students and teachers can join the Texas cohort at tx.ag/slingshot2024 or by contacting Albus at kelly.albus@ag.tamu.edu . Videos must be submitted by Feb. 1. “We are really excited to support Texas youth again this year for the Slingshot Challenge,” Albus said. “It’s a great opportunity for young people to share their ideas, and honestly, it’s been amazing for us supporters and educators, too.” In the 2023 Slingshot Challenge, hundreds of middle and high school students in Texas produced educational videos about environmental science.

Albus trained teachers how to use the challenge to complement state mandated teaching objectives for science courses and advanced placement environmental science courses, as well as help teachers connect students to local environmental issues to feature in their video projects. “These videos allow us to feel their hope and enthusiasm and get inspired, too,” she said.

“And when participants join our Texas ‘Lone Star’ team, we can help connect them with scientists, data, video resources and tips and tricks along the way. We’ve learned a lot from last year and want to help our Texas youth succeed in the challenge.” Last year, a Houston area student received multiple Slingshot Challenge and People’s Choice Award recognitions for a video titled “The 15 Minute City.” Learn more about the challenge at nationalgeographic.org/society/projects/slingshot .

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