Ojo de Pez 2022 call invites professional and amateur photographers to show the country’s aquatic ecosystems

Until August 3, they can participate by sending a maximum of three photographs through the site www.ojopez.cl

In its ninth version, the photo contest “Fish Eye: Portrays the life of the aquatic world”invites all people over 18 years of age residing in the country, to participate with three photographs of their own, which must show some aquatic ecosystem of the Chilean territory, in black and white or color.

There are three categories of the contest for this 2022, which were announced at the launch this Friday, June 24 at the Río Cruces Wetlands Center (CEHUM) of the Austral University of Chile: Landscape, work and aquatic conservation; Aquatic flora and fauna and Antarctic and Subantarctic Environments.

By receiving images in the three categories, it is expected to achieve the objective of showing and valuing the natural beauty, the diversity of species, the productive activities and the threats facing the aquatic, marine and freshwater ecosystems in Chile. In this sense, it seeks to create social awareness about their fragility and the value of their comprehensive care and encourage participation through the 14 available prizes.

About the contest, the Seremi of the southern macrozone of the Ministry of Science, Technology, Knowledge and Innovation, Maite Castrohighlighted the contest as “It is an initiative that, in addition to raising awareness about the wealth of biodiversity that exists in our territories and the need to conserve it, opens a door to communicate science through artistic expression“Specially inviting women to participate in this version, which is undoubtedly a great opportunity to highlight the talent that exists in our regions”

It should be noted that the contestFish Eye: Portrays the life of the aquatic world” is organized by the Institute of Marine and Limnological Sciences (ICML) of the Universidad Austral de Chile (UACh), Regional Associative Project (PAIR) explore The rivers of the Ministry of Science, Technology, Knowledge and Innovation and the Dynamic Research Center of High Latitude Marine Ecosystems (IDEAL).

Jose GarcesICML teacher and researcher at the IDEAL Center and part of the organization of the contest, indicated that he was very happy to have participated in the launching ceremony at CEHUM, a center that is precisely in charge of contributing to the restoration and conservation of a body of water such as El Río Cruces, which is faithfully framed with the spirit of the contest.

From the Explora Los Ríos Project, Camila Tejo director, highlighted the importance of the contest for the dissemination of science as “being able to raise awareness about the care of aquatic ecosystems in a decentralized manner, from the territory to the entire country and also from different photographic perspectives” emphasizing the favorable opportunities for meeting and knowledge that it means.

To reconnect with nature after two years of the pandemic, the winner of the Ojo de Pez 2022 Contest will be able to access a Photographic Expedition in the Los Ríos Region, consisting of two kayak trips (total duration 4 days and 3 nights). The first, second and third place in each category will receive, respectively, an action camera with a gimbal stabilizer, a professional photography tripod and a photo printer.

In two additional categories, the winner of the Los Ríos Region will receive a 4tb hard drive and the winner of the public will receive the physical copy Libro Ojo de Pez: Chile in images of Water and Life.

In addition, the best 30 photographs will be selected to be part of the virtual and face-to-face Ojo de Pez 2022 Exhibition that will be held in the Los Ríos Region and the Magallanes Region. This exhibition, in previous versions, has been visited by more than 200 thousand people.

The Ojo de Pez Contest is sponsored by the School of Marine Biologythe Vice President for Research, Development and Artistic Creation and the Doctorate in Marine biology dependent on the UACh. In addition, it collaborates Museum of RA Philippi scan of the UACh and the Sea and Science Foundation