Youngsters from schools in Aberdeen, Turriff and Inverurie have snapped the winning pictures for an Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire photography competition. Primary one at Easterfield School near Turriff, Rosalind Watt from Inverurie Academy and Lisa Gerrard from Bankhead Academy in Aberdeen are announced today (26th May 2009) as the winners of the Macaulay Land Use Research Institute’s Moments in Time competition. Participants were challenged to capture a view of their town, city or the countryside on camera which demonstrates how people in the north east live and work in the early 21st century.

Competition prizes included a digital camera, a visit to the Stratosphere Science Centre and photographic vouchers. The winning photographs will be featured on the Macaulay Land Use Research Institute’s 2010 calendar and will be displayed at the Macaulay Land Use Research Institute’s Open Doors event on June 6, when families can visit the world-renowned land use research centre and participate in a series of fun, science-related activities.

Professor David Miller, Head of Land Use from Macaulay Land Use Research Institute says, “The competition was a huge success, we had over thirty (34) entries from primary and secondary schools across Aberdeen city and Aberdeenshire. We were looking for photographs that captured the views and landscapes within Aberdeen City and the surrounding countryside at this point in time and are likely to differ from the views that past and future generations have seen or have yet to see. The entries we received were of a high standard, and we hope to run this competition again in the future.”

Competition runners-up were Qrdiquhill Primary in Banff, Andrew Mason from Robert Gordon’s College Junior School in Aberdeen, Jonathan Dawson from Robert Gordon’s College in Aberdeen. The following received Highly Commended awards: – Primary four at Easterfield School, Callum Kemp from Aboyne Primary, Emma Hamilton from Meldrum Academy in Oldmeldrum, Jonathan Dawson from Robert Gordon’s College and Anne Smith from Kemnay Academy.

Television presenter Adam Henson from the BBC’s nature programme Countryfile judged the competition, along with experienced landscape photographer Dr Oskar Puschmann and staff members from the Macaulay Land Use Research Institute and Edinburgh University.

Further details about the Open Doors 2009 event can be found at www.macaulay.ac.uk/OpenDoors2009 or by contacting 01224 395065.

ENDS

The winning photographs can be viewed at: ‘Moments in Time‘

Information for Editors

The Macaulay Land Use Research Institute was founded in 1930 and is an international centre for research and consultancy on the environmental and social consequences of rural land uses. With an annual income from research and consultancy of over £11m, the Institute is the largest interdisciplinary research organisation of its kind in Europe, and aims to provide evidence to help shape future environmental and rural-development policy on a national and international basis. For further information, visit www.macaulay.ac.uk

For further information contact:

Eilidh Morrison

Tricker PR

9 Victoria Street

Aberdeen

AB10 1XB

Direct Dial: 01224 654082

Office Telephone: 01224 646491

Fax: 01224 646492

Email: emorrison@trickerpr.com