Submission guidelines and official rules

 

I. Introduction

 

  1. Through Southern Lenses: Science in Focus is a Photo Essay Award organized and promoted by the Conrado Wessel Foundation (Fundação Conrado Wessel – FCW) and The World Academy of Sciences for the advancement of science in developing countries (TWAS).

  1. The Photo Essay Award, jointly organized by FCW and TWAS, is dedicated to Science, understood in its broadest sense, encompassing all fields of scientific knowledge — including both the Natural and Human Sciences.

II. Eligibility and Submission Requirements

 

  1. This international award focuses on the Photo Essay (photographic narrative) and is open exclusively to individuals or groups who are nationals of a developing country in the global South. Photographers from all fields of photography are eligible, provided they meet this requirement. The submitted Photo Essay must have been produced within the last five (5) years, with verifiable proof of its production date.

  2. Each Photo Essay must consist of ten (10) photographs centered around a single theme. The portfolio must be submitted digitally for evaluation through the official website: southernlenses.org.

  3. Each participant may submit only one Photo Essay, based on the theme “Glaciers and Deserts“, and reflecting on the resilience and adaptation of communities and ecosystems in the developing countries.

  4. Joint submissions are permitted, but anyone listed as an author or co-author on a Photo Essay is deemed to have used their single entry and may not appear on any other submission—whether as lead author or co-author.

 

III.  Judging Criteria

 

  1. Each Photo Essay will be evaluated based on its technical quality, aesthetic value, composition, form, originality, cultural relevance, overall coherence (editing and narrative), and ability to communicate the theme visually, without textual explanation.

  1. The winning Photo Essay will be selected by a Jury composed of six (6) experts, appointed by the Management Committees of FCW and TWAS.

  2. Each Management Committee (FCW and TWAS) will nominate three (3) experts: one (1) scientist and two (2) photographers or researchers, forming the Awards Jury.

  3. The Jury’s decision shall be final and irrevocable, with no possibility of appeal by participants.

 

IV. Awards

 

  1. The best Photo Essay will receive a prize of US$ 20,000.00 (twenty thousand U.S. dollars), provided by FCW.

  1. In the case of collective authorship (more than one author), the prize will be awarded to a designated representative of the group. The organizers bear no responsibility for distributing or allocating the award among the group members.


V. Rules of Participation

 

  1. Each Photo Essay must consist of ten (10) photographs.

  1. The registered photographer declares that any identifiable persons shown in the submitted photographs have provided their consent to the taking of their image for it be used, reproduced, and published for promotional, educational, and/or informational purposes for an unlimited period of time, throughout the world, including in accordance with UNESCO’s Open Access (OA) Policy and open licensing terms. Winners shall submit to TWAS and FCW an Image Consent Statement signed by each of the identifiable persons as formal proof that such consent has been obtained.

  1. The registered photographer will be considered the sole party responsible for the submitted Photo Essay. FCW and TWAS reserve the right to request a formal declaration of authorship from finalist photographers.

  1. Photo Essays generated or manipulated using Artificial Intelligence tools — such as ChatGPT, Midjourney, DALL·E, DreamStudio, DeepSeek, or similar — will not be accepted.

  1. Participants who fail to comply with these rules will be automatically disqualified.


VI. Enrollment

 

  1. Applications can be submitted between November 20, 2025 and February 15, 2026 via the website southernlenses.org. 

  1. Registration is free.


VII. Submission of Entries and Photographs 

 

  1. The registration form and photographs must be submitted exclusively through the official website: southernlenses.org.

  1. Incorrect and/or incomplete registration will result in the disqualification of the photographer.


VIII. Responsibility of the Awarded Photographer

 

  1. By accepting the award, winner/s consent to the use of their personal data, submitted work, and the image of any identifiable persons shown in the submitted photographs—for which they declare having obtained appropriate consent—by TWAS and FCW for promotional and communication purposes, including but not limited to press releases, websites, social media, and other outreach materials, in compliance with UNESCO’s privacy principles.

  1. FCW and TWAS shall be exempt from any liability or claims that may arise from the awarded photographer or third parties.

  2. The winner of the Through Southern Lenses: Science in Focus Photo Essay Award must submit the high-resolution digital files, properly identified, to the Award organizers within five (5) business days after the announcement of the results. The final images must have a resolution of 300 DPI. The files may be uploaded via any reputable file transfer service (such as WeTransfer, Google Drive, or Dropbox), and the download link must be sent to contact@southernlenses.org. 

  1. The awarded photographer will be solely responsible for any legal or extrajudicial claims that may arise from the exhibition, use, or publication of their photographs for promotional purposes.

  1. The awarded photographer will also be responsible for any judicial or extrajudicial demands resulting from the exposure, use, or publication of their photographs in the promotion of the Award results.

  1. The awarded photographer must submit to TWAS and FCW the Image Consent Statement signed by each identifiable person in the Photo Essay within 10 business days after the announcement of the results.

  2. If requested, the awarded photographer agrees to be photographed or recorded for dissemination and publicity purposes.

  3. The awarded Photo Essay will be published following the editing sequence suggested by the author or, if necessary, in an order determined by the Jury, which may also recommend adjustments to sequencing or editing for curatorial or editorial purposes.


IX. Responsibility of FCW and TWAS — Organizers of the Award

 

  1. FCW and TWAS shall not be held responsible for any issues related to the submission, loss, or misplacement of photographs during the application process.

  1. The awarded Photo Essay may be reproduced in enlarged or reduced formats, as necessary, to meet the requirements of the Award events or related publications.

  1. The awarded Photo Essay will be published following the editing sequence suggested by the author or, if necessary, in an order determined by the Jury, which may also recommend adjustments to sequencing or editing for curatorial or editorial purposes.

  1. TWAS and FCW ensure appropriate protection of any information relating to an identified or identifiable individual (“Personal Data”) in accordance with UNESCO’s Principles on Personal Data Protection and Privacy (https://www.unesco.org/en/privacy-policy) and applicable regulations and rules. Personal Data is classified as confidential and will be processed solely for the purpose of this competition.


X. Results

 

  1. FCW and TWAS will announce the name of the awarded photographer on March 9, 2026. 

  2. The announcement of the awarded photographer and the respective Photo Essay will be published on the official websites and social media channels of FCW and TWAS, as well as on the official Award website: southernlenses.org.


XI. Final Provisions

 

  1. Submission of the registration form implies full acceptance of all the conditions outlined in these Regulations by the applicant/photographer.

  1. Failure to comply with any clause of these Regulations will result in the disqualification of the photographer and their Photo Essay.

  2. Any questions regarding this Award should be directed to: contact@southernlenses.org.