#NatSCAConservation #photocomp

In the run up to the NatSCA Caring for Natural Science Collections one-day conservation conference (Oxford University Museum of Natural History, 17^th October 2018) we are running a social media photo competition.

We are looking for your original photographic entries featuring the conservation and collections care of natural history collections particularly those that focus on innovative techniques, modern advances, shared skills and preventative conservation.

We encourage entries from conservators (specialists, generalists and students alike), curators, volunteers, and anyone working with collections. Natural history collections may include bone, taxidermy, fluid preserved collections, geology, palaeontology, shell, botany, entomology, and more.

Removing oxidised oils from the surface of a Minke whale skull. ©Lucie Mascord.

To be included in the competition please tweet your entries to @Nat_SCA and use both hashtags #NatSCAConservation #photocomp. Please also caption your submission. You may enter up to three photographs, but please put in them separate tweets.

The competition will be live from the 10^th August to the 10^th October 2018, and the winner will be announced at the conference and shared on Twitter for those not attending.

The winning entry will receive a one year free membership of NatSCA for 2019. We welcome entries from both current members and non-members. See the Terms and Conditions for information on how this will be rewarded. The entry also will feature in the NatSCA blog.

Engaging with public with taxidermy conservation for “Fluff it up”. © The Grant Museum of Zoology, University College London.

The competition will be judged by the NatSCA conservation working group.

This competition was inspired by the photo competition ran by the Icon (Institute of Conservation) Heritage Science group which this year was won by our own Nigel Larkin with his photograph using infrared thermal imaging.

Terms and Conditions

1. The Promoter is the Natural Sciences Collections Association (NatSCA) a registered charity (No 1098156)
2. By entering, all entrants agree to abide by each and all these terms and conditions
3. Open to UK residents aged 16 and over only
4. Members of the NatSCA committee, conservation working group and contracted staff may use the hashtag and tweet photographs but are not eligible to win
5. NatSCA’s decision on who can participate and selection of the winner is final
6. Entrants must post images on Twitter or Facebook and use the hashtags #NatSCAConservation and #Photocomp. Please make sure Facebook entries are made visible to public or they will not be counted
7. There is no entry fee for the competition, but entrants should be aware that they might be subject to data charges depending on their own individual arrangements for Internet access
8. Competition closes on the 10^th October 2018. All eligible entries received by the Closing Date will be entered into the draw for the prize. The competition will be judged by the NatSCA conservation working group. The winner will be announced at the NatSCA Caring for Natural Science Collections one-day conference at the Oxford University Museum of Natural History on the 17^th October 2018. This will also be announced on Twitter for non-attendees. The winner will be formally notified by email following the event. The result of the competition will be final. All times given in British Summer Time.
9. The first prize will a one year free membership to NatSCA for the year running February 2019-January 2020. This will be arranged with the membership secretary.
10. For current members paying by standing order, arrangements can be made to receive a one-off refund with the membership secretary.
11. There will be one prize available to one entrant. Submissions from groups/institutions will be asked to select one single recipient from their team. The prize cannot be transferred, nor will any substitutions or alternatives be available. There will be no cash alternative in whole or in part.
12. Entrants can tweet up to three different images for the competition using the hashtag
13. Images shared on social media as part of the competition must be the original work of the entrant. The entrant must have permission to include people, objects, property and any copyrighted material in the image. Entries must not contain anything defamatory, obscene, illegal or otherwise inappropriate as may be deemed by NatSCA (the “Promoter”)
14. Entrants will confirm that any necessary permission of people/items featuring in the image has been obtained. Entrants will be credited for any images posted on the NatSCA blog following the competition and contacted prior to posting
15. NatSCA is under no obligation to publish any entries
16. Winning entrants agree to participate in reasonable publicity relating to the competition with NatSCA, including but not limited to having their name published with their entry
17. NatSCA will not be liable for technical, hardware or software failures of any kind, or lost or unavailable network connections that may limit or prohibit an entrant’s ability to participate in the competition. NatSCA will not be liable for any loss or damage arising out of the winner’s (or their guest’s) enjoyment of the prize
18. NatSCA reserves the right at any time to cancel, modify or supersede the competition (including altering prizes) if, in our sole discretion, a competition is not capable of being conducted as specified. NatSCA reserves the right to substitute a prize of equal value in the event that circumstances beyond their control make this unavoidable
19. This promotion is in not sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or in association with, Twitter, Facebook or any other social network