Essay Prizes for Science
PETERHOUSE COLLEGE, CAMBRIDGE, KELVIN SCIENCE PRIZE
Open to all students in year 12 or equivalent, regardless of nationality or school country. Essays must be between 2,000 and 4,000 words including footnotes and appendices.
THE OXFORD SCIENTIST WRITING COMPETITION
Designed for budding Science writers in the UK about to enter into year 11, year 12 or year 13, this prize entails writing a 700 word article on a stated theme. Winners have their work published in The Oxford Science magazine along with other prizes.
ST HILDA’S SCIENCE POETRY PRIZE
Open to students aged between 11 and 18 years, entrants are asked to write a poem on a subject using their scientific knowledge. The winning poem will be performed at St Hilda's College, Oxford University.
THE QUEEN'S COMMONWEALTH ESSAY COMPETITION
The competition is open to all citizens and residents of the Commonwealth aged 18 and under, to consider how they can work to use cultural, technological and environmental connections for positive change across the Commonwealth.
THE NEWNHAM ENGINEERING PRIZE (GIRLS ONLY)
Open to all girls currently in Year 12 (Lower Sixth) at a UK school. Submissions should be 2,000 – 2,500 words, including footnotes and captions, but not bibliography. All sources must be appropriately acknowledged and cited, and the bibliography should include websites consulted. Up to five entries may be submitted per school.
THE WESTON-SMITH PHYSICAL SCIENCES PRIZE (GIRLS ONLY)
Open to all girls currently in Year 12 (Lower Sixth) at a UK school. Submissions should comply with the following: 4-6 A4 sides maximum including all figures, diagrams, tables and bibliography, with a maxium of 2500 words.
THE NEWNHAM BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES PRIZE (GIRLS ONLY)
Open to all girls currently in Year 12 (Lower Sixth) at a UK school. Submissions should comply with the following: 4-6 A4 sides maximum including all figures, diagrams, tables and bibliography, with a maxium of 2500 words.
TechFest’s STEM Next - essay competition
Open to all students currently aged 16-18 years at a UK school. Submissions minimum of 1000 and a maximum of 3000 words and can be used as part of a CREST Award. Students are required to pick a question from one of six categories.
Royal College of Science Union (RCSU) Science Challenge
Open to all students if you're an Imperial student or if you are in the last four years of secondary school (or the international equivalent). Students can enter as an individual or a team to answer one of the questions in either written or video form of up to 1000 words or four minutes respectively.
ABSW’s Young Science Writer of the Year
Open to all students aged 14-16 years, to submit an 800-word essay on any subject in science, technology, engineering and/or mathematics. The award winner receives £1000, mentorship and one year’s membership of ABSW.
MathWorks Math Modeling Challenge
Open to all students aged 14-16 years(England and Wales only), to work in teams of three to five, participants have 14 hours to solve an open-ended math-modelling problem focused on a real issue during the challenge weekend. Scholarships totaling $100,000 (>£75,000) are awarded annually.
Unsung Heroes of Science video competition
Open to all students aged 16-18 years, to submit a two-minute video sharing the story of a scientist whose contributions were overlooked.
Top of the Bench
Open to all students aged 14-16 years, to put their teamwork and practical skills into action. Teams must consist of four students: two from year 9/S2; one from year 10/S3; one from year 11/S4. Run from October to January, regional heats are organised and funded by Local Sections. The winning team from each heat will progress to a national final.
British Science Week poster competition
Open to all students aged 3-14 years (4 age categories), to submit an original one page of A4 or A3 poster. Entrants can be teams or individuals and each school can submit up to five entries. Members of the British Science Association will shortlist entries, and a panel of judges will select a winner in each category.
Clean Tech Competition
Open to all students aged 15-18 years, to identify a problem with our natural world and resource use that they want to change, innovate a sustainable solution and submit a research paper to the judges. Each team should be made up of one to three students.