Microsoft Imagine Cup 2008 Photography Competition

Press Release:
This year’s theme is 'Imagine a world where technology enables a sustainable environment'. The competition has nine diverse categories including photography, short film, gaming and software development and a total prize fund of $200,000 (around £100,000). Students can register for the competition and read about the individual categories at the website.

Each UK registered student will also enter a prize draw to win an Xbox 360 Elite each month up to the end of February. Last year more then 100,000 students from over 100 countries participated in what some have likened to an Olympic competition.

The nine competition categories include a mix of team and individual challenges. Each will have a UK winner announced in May 2008, which will receive a special country prize depending on the competition category, as well as being entered into the global competition. Category prizes include work placements, video and photography equipment, powerful PCs and the opportunity to have work on public display.

The Imagine Cup now incorporates nine categories, appealing to students with both technological and artistic affinities. These consist of Software Design, Embedded Development, Game Development, Project Hoshimi: Programming Battle, IT Challenge, Algorithm, Photography, Short Film and Interface Design.

Microsoft believes that the potential of young people, when teamed with the power of technology, can have a valuable impact on global issues. To this end, the competition calls upon young technologists, programmers and artists to apply their skills and imagination to developing real life solutions to problems which affect the lives of millions of people around the world.

The competition is open to all college or university students in part-time or full-time education. To put your imagination to the test, take the online quiz and register at the Imagine Cup website.