Following the success of the Quarry Life Award 2012, HeidelbergCement Group is soon to launch the second round of its international research and education competition. Through the Quarry Life Award, the company seeks to promote new research projects in order to raise awareness about the biological value of mineral extraction sites worldwide. Already in the first round, the competition gave rise not only to extraordinary scientific results, but also to innovative projects and educational concepts.

The official kick-off of the application phase for the Quarry Life Award 2014 is on 17 September 2013. Up to 1 March 2014, project proposals in five different categories can be submitted in any of the now 22 participating countries – with Indonesia, Canada, Turkey and the US joining for the first time. The individual categories are: “Raising Public Awareness”, “Promoting Biodiversity”, “Innovation and Biodiversity”, “Biodiversity and Education” and the new category “Pupil and Student Projects”. The additional category is meant to make the Quarry Life Award accessible for the younger generation as well.

Best overall project receives €30,000
From the submitted proposals, the jury in each country will select five projects, which must be completed by September 2014. Then, three winners will be chosen by each national jury. Irrespective of their placement in the national competition, all five completed projects will compete simultaneously for the International Quarry Life Award. In the broader competition, the best projects in the five categories will be selected in December 2014 and awarded €10,000 each. The best overall project will receive prize money of €30,000.

The Quarry Life Award – a benefit for nature, scientists and the company
“The Quarry Life Award,” says Dr Bernd Scheifele, CEO of HeidelbergCement AG, “is an outstanding opportunity to show our stakeholders, such as government agencies, local municipalities, environmental groups and business partners, that HeidelbergCement is a pioneer when it comes to biodiversity management. Quarrying sites are ideal places for scientists and young people alike to do research on nature protection. Quarries and aggregates pits enrich the landscape and create habitats for various species of animals and plants that are becoming increasingly marginalised in modern cultural landscapes.
The Quarry Life Award creates a win-win situation for the scientists, nature and our subsidiaries on country level.”

Additional <link http: www.quarrylifeaward.com _blank external-link-new-window external link in new>information on the Quarry Life Award.