Environmental Defense Fund is working together with four local high schools on a new video contest about the value of clean air.
EDF is sponsoring the contest for students at four schools in Houston’s East End – Chavez, Furr, Galena Park and Milby.
Students at those schools can submit short videos about the health effects of air pollution in Houston. Winning videos will be eligible to receive prizes worth up to $2,500. Winning students will also have the opportunity to learn filmmaking, editing and post-production techniques from Houston-area filmmaking professionals.
Student entry forms and video submission instructions are available at the participating schools.
- Click here for contact information
- Click here for research resources for students
The Challenge
In 2015, Houston experienced 44 days of unhealthy air quality. The region also continues to be unable to meet federal health-based air quality standards for ground-level ozone, commonly referred to as smog.
This is cause for concern. Poor air quality is associated with a range of adverse health effects, including respiratory diseases like asthma, stroke, heart disease, pre-term birth, and cancer.
The sources and distribution of air pollution vary geographically. For example, the 39 million Americans who live near ports (like Houstonians in the East End near the Ship Channel) may have a higher risk of exposure to harmful air pollution from diesel. That’s due to large volumes of diesel-fueled freight traffic and other port-related emissions, such as from ships docking at port and cargo-handling equipment. Emissions from industrial facilities such as petroleum refineries and power plants, as well as from traffic, can also contribute to poor air quality.
The Contest
A major challenge for community leaders working to protect health and improve air quality in the Houston area is a lack of information available to the public regarding the health effects of air pollution. This is especially true for communities living close to the Houston Ship Channel, in Houston’s East End.
Here is where local teens come in:
Students from Chavez, Furr, Galena Park and Milby High Schools are invited to submit a short video about the health effects of air pollution in Houston.
- Videos should be no longer than 3 minutes in length.
- Students must be currently enrolled at one of these four Houston-area high schools to participate in this competition.
- Bilingual videos are eligible and encouraged.
Winning Videos will receive prizes worth up to $2,500
- First Place Video: $2,500 Visa gift card
- Second Place Video: $1,500 Visa gift card
- Third Place Video: $500 Visa gift card
Winning students may also be eligible to learn filmmaking, editing and post-production techniques from Houston-area industry professionals.
All videos must be submitted to school contest coordinators by April 21, 2017 at 11:59 PM Central Time.