Quarry Life Award 2018

HeidelbergCement launches the fourth edition of its competition promoting biodiversity

For the fourth time HeidelbergCement is inviting to participate in its international scientific and educational contest. The “Quarry Life Award” targets innovative approaches to study and boost biodiversity at quarry sites and aims to raise awareness about mining ecology. New in this fourth edition is the separate assessment of scientific and community project ideas.

To participate in this competition, students, graduates, researchers, NGO’s and local communities have to submit a project to one of the six available categories. From January to September 2018, HeidelbergCement will open the doors of its quarries in 26 participating countries – with Benin, Burkina Faso, Egypt, France, Italy and Morocco joining for the first time.

“Many of our quarries serve as a habitat for rare species. Protecting biodiversity in our quarries and promoting the knowledge about it is therefore particularly important to us,” said Dr Bernd Scheifele, Chairman of the Managing Board at HeidelbergCement. “We believe that the research projects and ideas of the Quarry Life Award contribute to these efforts. That’s why we implement the Quarry Life Award for the fourth time in a row.”

New concept fosters conservation and stakeholder dialogue

To allow fair competition for all participants, the Quarry Life Award is now split into two streams: the research stream and the community stream.

The research stream focuses on scientific projects that increase knowledge of mining ecology and lead to improved biodiversity, landscape, or water management. It is open to academics, scientists, experts and NGOs. The available categories in this stream are:

• biodiversity management
• habitat & species research
• beyond quarry borders

The community stream focuses on engagement and outreach projects that help the quarry to better connect with its local stakeholders. Furthermore it will raise awareness and help to educate about biodiversity in quarries. This stream is open to everyone - individuals, students, school classes, NGO’s and local communities. The available categories in this stream are:

• biodiversity & education
• connecting quarries and local communities
• student class project 

Further information: www.quarrylifeaward.com