By Zain Basalat
UNIVERSITY CITY, SHARJAH—The American University of Sharjah has announced a new competition challenging young people to address the issue of climate change through their media projects.
Sharjah Media City and the AUS Department of Media Communication in the College of Arts and Sciences, along with the Department of Art and Design in the College of Architecture, Art, and Design, have collaborated with National Network Communications to present an opportunity for high school and university students.
The competition is part of the AUS-Shams Media Day, scheduled for Nov. 8, and will be sponsored by NNC. With the theme of “Immediacy,” organizers say this competition aims to inspire creative minds among UAE-based students to address the issue of climate change.
In light of the upcoming COP28 conference to be hosted in the UAE, the call for submissions is time-restricted. Participants will have the chance to see their creations featured, with cash prizes for winners, along with opportunities to amplify the reach of their projects across various media platforms. This collaborative initiative promises to empower the youth and harness their creativity in advocating for climate action, aligning with global efforts to combat climate change.
In a statement on the AUS website, Department of Media Communication Head Dr. Sohail Dahdal said “our youth are not just the leaders of tomorrow, but the change-makers of today.” He added, “this event is a testament to the power of the media in shaping narratives, and we are eager to witness how these young minds use their creativity to address and highlight the imminent challenges of climate change.”
The competition calls for original media creations, stressing that entries must have been produced on or after Nov. 8, 2022. To ensure authenticity and respect for intellectual property rights, submissions containing unlicensed materials will not be considered. The submission deadline is Oct. 28, 2023. To enter, individuals should complete the form at https://forms.aus.edu/232674502564053.
