For Individuals or Groups (2–5 students per group) — Maximum points: 200 (100 per entry. 2 entries per school)
YOUR CHALLENGE: When the sun sets our world becomes alive with specialized flora and fauna adapted to thrive in the nighttime. Unassuming diurnal plants may produce an elegant bloom or emit a concentrated fragrance at night in order to appeal to nocturnal pollinators such as moths, bats and beetles. Select and research a night-blooming plant from the list provided (See Challenge Resources). Create a 3-D art sculpture of your chosen plant and write a description of its unique adaptations that have evolved to facilitate pollination. Downloadable PDF
ENTRY SUBMISSION: Wednesday, November 17, 2021 by 5:00 pm
Electronically submit the following:
Delivered to Fairchild in person or via certified mail:
3-D art sculpture
Description
Bibliography
| ✓ Entry Requirements: |
| | Entry includes school name and a list of participating students |
| | 3-D art sculpture features night blooming plant |
| | 3-D art sculpture is no bigger than 16” in any dimension |
| | Majority of components of 3-D art sculpture from recycled materials |
| | One page description includes unique adaptations that have evolved to facilitate pollination |
| | Bibliography cites 3 sources and follows MLA or APA format |
| | On-time entry submission (late entries may not receive points) |
NIGHT BLOOMING PLANTS STUDENT WORKSHOP: THURSDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2021 from 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm.
This workshop will highlight how specialized flora and fauna are adapted to thrive in the nighttime. Students will see night-blooming plants during their walking tour. Available spaces will be filled on a first-come, first served basis. To register, please click here. – CLOSED.
Free Transportation for Title I Schools
Thanks to our generous donors the Fairchild Challenge is able to offer free transportation to Title I schools visiting the Garden for Fairchild Challenge programming. Programming includes: weekday, evening and weekend Fairchild Challenge student workshops and Fairchild Challenge symposia. Please complete the transportation request form at least 2 weeks prior to the event date. Late requests may not be accommodated.
FAIRCHILD FIELD TRIP EXTENSION:
Bring your class on a virtual field trip at Fairchild. Please visit Explorer Field Trip Programs for more information.
EVALUATION CRITERIA:
For more information on how your submission will be evaluated, see Challenge 2 Evaluation Sheet
STATE ACADEMIC STANDARDS:
This Challenge meets various state standards, visit Challenge 2 Benchmarks
CHALLENGE RESOURCES:
Brittany Harris, Ph.D. Candidate at Florida International University. Workshop Presentation – NEW!
U.S. Forest Service: Moth Pollination
U.S. Forest Service: Bat Pollination
C.J. MacGregor and A.S. Scott-Brown 2020: Nocturnal pollination: an overlooked ecosystem service vulnerable to environmental change
Eva Knop et al. 2017: Artificial light at night as a new threat to pollination
Theodor H. Fleming et al. 2009: The evolution of bat pollination: a phylogenetic perspective (Extensive plant list on pages 1039-1043)
Samantha Sivertz – Night Blooming Plants
Andrei Sourakov – Night Blooming Plants and their Insect Pollinators
National Geographic: Tube-Lipped Nectar Bat (video) – NEW!
Bat Conservation International – Florida Bonneted Bat Acoustic Monitoring Project – NEW!
Angela Nicoletti – It’s lights out for moths, if you like your nightly pollinators – NEW!
Jillian Mock – These photos reveal the pollination secrets of Florida’s most elusive flower – NEW!
Background information on Fairchild’s living collection
List of selected night blooming plants at Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden – NEW!
Fairchild’s Garden Explorer
APA and MLA Citation Generator
