Giverny
Book Award^TM

The Giverny Award

* The Giverny Award is an annual award established in 1998 by Dr. James H. Wandersee and Dr. Elisabeth Schussler for the 15 Degree Laboratory, currently based at Louisiana State University. The Laboratory performs research on visual cognition in biology, visual approaches to learning biology, and the graphic represention of biological knowledge.

* The name of the Giverny Award alludes to the renowned village that provides the site, setting, and inspiration for famous impressionist paintings synonymous with what we call "visual capture and explanation" of the floral esthetic experience. We think these paintings represent the exact visual opposite of humans' "Plant Blindness" (a current cause celebre of the Laboratory). These images allow us how to see in new ways--to see light, to see air, to see water--to see and experience vivid plant life outdoors--as if we were really there. We can contemplate populations of plants in breathtakingly natural light; like insects, we are to be drawn into the lifelike visualizations of floral panoramas. Note that the name "Giverny" is, in our minds, not only emblematic of the latent connection between art and science, but also of visual capture, visual explanation, and visual exemplification of botanical views of the world.
Note: The Giverny Award solely represents the views of the 15 Degree Laboratory's Award Selection Committee, and no other endorsements by any other entity are implied or assumed.

* The Giverny Award has the following criteria:

1. It is awarded to the author and to the illustrator of the chosen book.
2. The book must be a children's science picture book written in the English language and published within five years of the award date.
3. The book must teach its young reader at least one important scientific principle, or encourage the reader toward specific science-related pursuits or inquiry.
4. The book's artwork, illustrations, photographs, or graphics must work in harmony with the text to tell an important story well. The text must have a story with a plot and characters.
5. All other factors being equal, books about plants and/or plant science (either in part or in toto) will have preference.
6. The panel of judges will include at least one person who is an expert in each of these fields: plant biology, biology education, ecology, and geology education.

* Recognition

1. Winning books are distinguished with a special gold award seal designed especially for the Lab by the renowned children's author-illustrator, Molly Bang.
2. The author and the illustrator each receive a large and distinctive award plaque, plus the right to reproduce and use the seals on their winning book.
3. The award is announced at the 15 Degree Laboratory Banquet held each year in April.
4. A large number of copies of the book (with award seal affixed) is made available for purchase by attendees at the annual banquet.

* Submission Deadline for 2009
   March 1, 2009.

The Giverny Award Committee does its own searching for potential award-worthy books, year-round, but to make certain a particular book is not inadvertently overlooked, readers, authors, or publishers may mail 2 copies of an eligible book to:

The Giverny Award Committee
c/o Prof. Jim Wandersee
Dept. of Curriculum & Instruction
Room 223 Peabody Hall
Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA 70803

* To Receive More Information
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