Professional and amateur Filipino cartoonists are urged
to take part in “BiotechTOONS: A Contest for Cartoonists
on Biotechnology” organized by the International
Service for the Acquisition of Agri-biotech Applications
(ISAAA) and the Southeast
Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in
Agriculture – Biotechnology Information Center (SEARCA BIC)
in collaboration with the Philippine
International Cartoons, Comics, and Animation (PICCA), Inc.
BiotechTOONS centers on the theme “The
Benefits and Potentials of Crop Biotechnology”.
Cartoonist-participants are to portray the scientifically
documented benefits of modern biotechnology in original,
hand-drawn editorial cartoons. The entries may also be based
on existing studies about the potential benefits, products
and impact of applying modern biotechnology in agriculture.
In the Philippines, the promising technologies nearing commercialization
for farmers are the fruit and shoot borer resistant Bt eggplant,
delayed ripening virus resistant papaya, vitamin-A enriched
rice, and Bt cotton.
The contest has two categories: professional and amateur.
Professional cartoonists are practicing cartoonists who
may be affiliated with media networks and/or any professional
organizations. Amateur cartoonists could be students, non-professionals
or professionals who consider the art of creating cartoons
as a hobby. The contestant will choose the category that
he or she will enter.
Entries will be accepted on or before November 7, 2011.
The winning and selected artworks will be displayed on November
21-26, 2011 as part of the exhibit of the 7th National Biotechnology
Week at the Department of Environment and Natural Resources,
Quezon City.
Plaques and cash prizes of Php 50,000, Php 30,000, and
Php 20,000 await the top three winners for the professional
level. First, second, and third placers for the amateur
level will receive corresponding cash prizes of Php25,000,
Php15,000, and Php10,000.
For more details about the mechanics of the contest, check-out
BiotechTOONS facebook page www.facebook.com/BiotechToons,
visit SEARCA BIC website www.bic.searca.org
, ISAAA website www.isaaa.org,
or send an e-mail to bic@agri.searca.org
or knowledge.center@isaaa.org.
See contest mechanics here.
(Jenny
A. Panopio and Sophia
M. Mercado)
