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How to enter
Glaciers have formed the Swiss and UK landscapes for millennia. Today, they are their own form of ambassadors for climate change, compelling us to act now. Their rapid retreat in the Swiss Alps is a tangible and compelling visualisation of global heating. This is why we ask: How do glaciers impact your life? What do you enjoy about them? What do you do to protect them? You can show us in a photograph and add a short caption!
To apply for Ambassador for a Day 2024, all you need to do is submit a photo you have taken which answers the question:
“How have glaciers shaped your life?”
The photo can be as literal or as abstract as the applicant likes but must clearly be linked to glaciers and, thereby, answer the question.
Are there any technical requirements?​
Yes. Your photo should be in .png, .jpg or .jpeg format and can be accompanied by a short caption (in English, French, German or Italian) which provides key details about the photo, such as where and when it was taken, or what it means to you. The photo can be landscape or portrait, and must have been taken by you. The photo does not need to have been taken with a professional camera – a personal camera or phone of any kind are fine.
Please note that communication during the Ambassador for a Day programme will be largely in English, so a working-level of English is required to fully participate.
All submitted material will be pre-cleared for usage, so we can use them as part of a continuous campaign on the cryosphere and climate.
How do I send you my photo?
Once you’ve selected your photo, please upload it via our application form. Please make sure your photo is in the correct format, so that the application form accepts it.
How will you choose the winner?
An internal, independent jury will consider all applications and shortlist the top 10. A jury comprised of UK and Swiss science experts, photographers, and His Majesty’s Ambassador will consider the shortlist and choose the overall winner. They will be looking for applications that are well communicated, passionate, and personal, but they won’t expect the photos to be perfect or to have been taken on an expensive camera.
What happens if I win?
You will be invited to participate in the fieldtrip* with the University of Salford in the UK in March 2024, as well as to the Embassy to meet our Ambassador, James Squire, and spend a day taking part in training workshops and events designed to help give you the skills to create change in our societies, especially related to climate action and climate politics.
We will pay for your travel expenses to the British Embassy Berne. In partnership with British Airways, we are also delighted to cover the UK-Switzerland travel expenses for the winner (not including meals in the UK).
The winner is responsible for their own visa to travel to the UK for the prize in 2024.
*For those with accessibility needs, an alternative programme will be developed.
Who can apply to Ambassador for a Day? Do I need to be Swiss, Liechtensteiner or British?
Ambassador for a Day is open to all young people aged between 18-25 years. You need to be living in Switzerland or Liechtenstein, but there is no citizenship requirement. You do not need to be British. Ambassador for a Day is open to people of all backgrounds and is trans-inclusive.
