Citizens of Scotland are being challenged to photograph a rural scene which captures the changes in rural Scotland, to be collated for future generations. The 2010 Macaulay Land Use Research Institute (Macaulay) “How is Rural Scotland Changing?” photographic competition is designed to illustrate the public’s awareness of rural changes which are taking place. Winners will receive a Braemar Safari ticket for two plus £100 and runner-ups will receive a £50 photographic voucher.

The competition will be judged in two categories, 18 year olds and under and 19 year olds and over. Photographs entered should reflect the individual’s interpretation of the changes that are taking place in Scotland in relation to one or all of the following issues; Water, Landscape, Climate Change, Rural Society, Soil and Wildlife.

Jane Lund, Events Manager at the Macaulay says, “With this particular competition, we are interested in collating images which highlight the changes in rural areas of Scotland which are evident to the general public. This may refer to a personal experience or perhaps a visual difference to a landscape for instance”.

Entries will be judged by BBC’s Out of Doors presenter Euan McIlwraith, Lesley Ferguson, head of collection at the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland, Andrew O’Brien, picture Editor at the Scotsman, and the Macaulay’s chief executive, Professor Richard Aspinall.

The competition has been divided into two separate categories; 18 and under, and over 19years. The closing date for the competition is Friday, 2nd April 2010. Entry forms and further details about the competition can be found at www.macaulay.ac.uk/photocomp or by contacting 01224 395065.

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Notes to 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 £14m, 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.

Extensive state-of-the-art laboratory facilities support the environmental research programmes and offer specialist, commercial, analytical services for the oil and gas, environmental, food and general manufacturing/processing sectors. Facilities are available to undertake a wide range of analyses related to plants, soils, water, gas and sediments including electron microscopy, infrared spectroscopy and mass spectrometry.

For further information contact:

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