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The science competitions your students can enter this year

By Emma Molloy

Discover STEM-themed competitions for you and your students to enter in this academic year

Source: © Shutterstock

Learn about the fantastic array of science competitions your students can enter – so you can sign up as soon as possible

There is a great range of science competitions out there that your students can enter. Competitions come in all shapes and sizes, including essay writing, photography and video competitions, and can be local or national events.

Besides the array of downloadable materials you can make use of in your lessons, as homework or part of a science club, the benefits of taking part include learning how to work in a team, grasping how lessons apply to real-world problems, and there could even be some extra cash to bag!

You can jump straight to the lists of science-writing competitions , or more arty competitions (such as photography and drawing prizes), or simply read on to discover what’s open to you and your students this academic year.

These competitions have been ordered by closing date. Listing a competition does not serve as an endorsement by the RSC.  Last updated: 16 May 2024.

Cambridge Chemistry Challenge

Age: 19 or younger

Registration opens: now

Closes:  1 June 2024

This competition — aimed at Year 12 students but available to younger students — is designed to stretch and challenge students beyond the curriculum interested in chemistry and is excellent experience for anyone considering chemistry for further study.

Students sit a 90-minute written paper under exam conditions in school, which is sent out to schools in advance. Mark schemes are available to teachers, and for schools submitting more than five scripts, these should be marked by the teacher. Scripts of students scoring over 50% are then submitted. Students who perform well receive a certificate and the best performers are invited to join a residential camp at the University of Cambridge at the end of August

The website contains lots of past papers and mark schemes, which are a valuable resource for teachers. Full details are on the  website .

Science meets art

If you have some students who would be hooked by the artistic side of science, check out these competitions:

• RSB Photography competition (open to all ages; opens March 2024; £500 top prize for under 18s)
• RSB Nancy Rothwell Award for specimen drawing (ages 7–18; open March–July 2024; prizes include set of drawing pencils and small cash prizes for students and schools)
• Science Without Borders challenge is an artwork competition with a focus on ocean conservation. The 2024 theme is ‘hidden wonders of the deep’ (ages 11–19; closes 4 March 2024; maximum prize of $500)
• British Science Week poster competition ; this year’s theme will be ‘time’ (ages 3–14; closes March 2024)
• RPS Woman Science Photographer of the Year is open to women of all ages and backgrounds (open and under 18s; closing date TBC but expected March 2024)
• Minds Underground Competitions ; Minds Underground run a number of essay competitions each year covering a variety of STEM and other topics (all ages; closing dates vary but 2024 questions will be released January 2024, see website for full details)

UKBC Intermediate Biology Olympiad

Age: Students in first year of 16+ education

Registration opens: now open

Competition dates: 5–12 June 2024

This international, annual competition is open to students in the first year of post-16 education in the UK. The competition consists of a one-hour multiple choice paper that is taken online under formal exam conditions. Questions cover topics students will be familiar with alongside some new concepts to test their problem-solving skills and understanding of core principals.

Practice papers are available to print to help students prepare. The competition is free to enter for UK schools and participants receive an e-certificate that recognises their level of achievement.

Find more information, including registering your school to take part, on the  UKBC website .

Science writing competitions

Numerous essays competitions run each year covering all aspects and areas of STEM. Below is just a selection of some of the competitions out there. Entries into science writing competitions make great additions to UCAS applications, and they get students thinking about science, too.

• The  Oxford Scientist  Schools’ Science Writing Competition  (700-word essay that teachers submit; ages 15–18; deadline 10 July 2024; prize includes being published in the magazine and feedback).
• Newnham College, Camb ridge (2000-word academic essay; age 16–18 women at state school only; deadline 8 July 2024; winners receive up to £400 to split with their school). Teachers can sign up to mailing lists now to hear more about this essay competition and other events from the college.

IET Faraday Challenge

Registration opens: January 2024 for the 2024–2025 season

Closes: July 2024

Faraday Challenges  are cross-curricular STEM activity days for UK schools run by the Institution of Engineering and Technology. This annual competition draws on students’ practical science and engineering skills, asking them to work in teams to solve real-world engineering problems and think creatively. Schools can host Challenge Days and invite teams from local schools to join them or apply to join a day at another school. Planning for these events starts early, so plenty of time to get organised for the day.

Teams should be made up of six students aged 12–13 years old (England and Wales Year 8, Scotland S1/S2, Northern Ireland Year 9). Schools may host a challenge day themselves or attend one hosted at another school.

Students win prizes for themselves and a trophy for their school. There is also a national league table and the top teams from across the UK go through to the national final, with the chance to win a cash prize of up to £1000 for their school. Plus, by taking part students will also meet the criteria for achieving a CREST Discovery Award.

If you are not able to enter into the main competition, there is also the opportunity for students to take part in the  Virtual Faraday Challenge  open to anyone aged 7–15.

Local to Newcastle?

Newcastle Secondary School SciFair  is a university-run secondary school science fair for students from state schools across Newcastle. Sci-Fair is a whole day event that will take place during British Science Week. Students can get the opportunity to present their models, posters or PowerPoint presentations about a scientific topic of their choosing. SciFair is open to ages 11–16. There are multiple prizes to be won on the day to recognise student’s efforts. Spaces are limited capacity, so students should wait for their projects to be approved before starting work.

EMBL Art and Science Project

Age: 14–18 Participation deadline: 31 August 2024

Discover the world of proteins with the European Molecular Biology Laboratory, and create an artwork inspired by what you’ve learned. Cash prizes of up to €100.

Visit the website to find out more. 

Deadlines passed:

Stockholm uk junior water prize.

Submissions open: 29 Feb 2024

Submission deadline: 13 May 2024

This prize challenges young people in STEM to develop innovative yet practical solutions to the global water crisis. Entrants decide on a topic or problem that they want to investigate and undertake background research and experimental work before submitting a full written report.

Students whose reports are shortlisted get to present their work virtually to the judges. The winning UK entry receives £1,000 cash prize and a fully funded trip to represent the UK and their school at the Stockholm Junior Water Prize competition in Sweden in August and be in with a chance to win the international grand prize of US$15,000!

Learn more on the  website .

UKBC Biology Challenge

Competition dates: 1–17 May 2024

The Biology Challenge is a fun, annual competition open to students aged 13–15 in the UK. The challenge compromises of two, 25-minute, multiple-choice papers, and students need to complete both papers to be considered for an award category.

The questions set cover the school curriculum, but also caters to budding biologists whose knowledge has been enhanced by reading books and magazines, watching natural history programmes and taking a keen interest in all things biology.

Practice papers are available to help students prepare. The competition is free to enter for UK schools and participants receive an e-certificate that recognises their category of achievement.

Find more information and register your school to take part on the  Biology Challenge website .

BIEA Youth STEAM Competition

Registration opens:  October 2023

Closes: April 2024 for first-round submissions

The  BIEA Youth STEAM Competition  asks students to use their creativity to come up with ideas for a more sustainable future based on a specific theme. The theme for 2024 has yet to be announced, but the theme for 2023 was “developing solutions for sustainable cities”. Students research, design and present their solution, including a written report.

Students can enter as individuals or in teams of up to five members and schools can enter more than one team. There are lots of competition categories to cover all age groups. Submissions are expected to be accepted from January 2024 and the international final to be in July 2024. Learn more on the competition  website .

Royal College of Science Union (RCSU) Science Challenge

Registration opens:  1 March 2024

Closes: 26 April 2024

Imperial College London’s RCSU Science Challenge is all about science communication – requiring students to demonstrate their skills in debate and reasoning and teach the public about science and its consequences. Questions on a given theme are set by eminent scientists – who even read the shortlisted entries, so there’s a real chance students’ work will be seen by world-leading academics. This year’s theme is Hidden depth.

Students can answer one of the questions in either written or video form of up to 1000 words or three minutes, 30 seconds, respectively. Winners receive cash prizes, plus there are non-cash prizes for the runners up.

Shortlisted candidates will be invited to the grand final on 21 June 2024 at the Royal Institution, where they will deliver a short presentation. Find more information about taking part on the  challenge website .

Unsung Heroes of Science video competition

Close s: 30 April 2024

The International  Unsung Heroes of Science video competition   from Hertford College, University of Oxford is open to all 16–18 students. Entrants are tasked with making a two-minute video sharing the story of a scientist whose contributions were overlooked. Entries can be submitted by individuals or in teams of up to three.

The competition website also has lesson plans and links to videos of previous unsung heros, which are great resources for teachers to inspire their students.

British Science Week poster competition

Age: 3–14 Registration opened: January 2024 Closes: March 2024

British Science Week will run from 8–17 March. Alongside numerous activities and events across the country, there will be a themed poster competition – and this year’s theme will is ‘time’.

Entrants can explore a wide range of ideas covered by the broad theme. Judges are on the look out for an innovative angle or creative interpretation of the theme; clear, accurate and informative content; and effective, engaging communication. This competition is a great way for students to practise their communication skills. There are numerous prizes up for grabs that cover all age categories.

Entrants can be teams or individuals from any organisation, although schools are limited to five entries. Find out more on the  website , including activity packs and other resources to make the most of British Science Week.

Big Bang Young Scientists and Engineers Competition

Age: 11–18 Registration opens:  October 2023 Closes: 27 March 2024

The Big Bang Competition  is open to young people aged 11 to 18 in state-funded education or who are home educated or who enter as part of a community group. Private school participants can get involved as part of a collaboration with state-school peers.

Participants complete project-based work, focusing on investigation, discovery and use of scientific methods. Students choose their own STEM topic and work to submit their project as a written report or short video. The possibilities are endless!

Students can include their involvement in the competition in their extracurricular activities on UCAS forms and personal statements and have a chance of winning a range of awards and cash prizes.

Find out how to get started and get inspired with past projects on the  Big Bang website .

MathWorks Math Modeling challenge

Age: 16–19 (England and Wales only) Registration opens:  November 2023 Closes: 24 February 2024

The  M3 Challenge  is an internet-based applied maths competition that inspires participants to pursue STEM education and careers. Working in teams of three to five students, participants have 14 consecutive hours to solve an open-ended maths-modelling problem based around a real issue during the challenge weekend, 1–4 March 2024.

The problem typically has a socially conscious theme – equity, the environment, conservation or recycling, energy use, health, and other topics that young people care about. The challenge gives students the opportunity to use maths modelling processes to represent, analyse, make predictions and otherwise provide insight into real-world phenomena. For example, 2023’s problem centred around modelling the impacts of e-bikes to better understand if they are likely to become part of a global, more sustainable energy plan.

Numerous free  resources , including modelling and coding handbooks, videos and sample problems are available to help teams prepare for the event.

The competition’s final presentation and awards ceremony event is held in New York City in late April – an all-expense paid experience for the finalist teams. These top teams will be awarded scholarships toward the pursuit of higher education, with members of the overall winning team receiving $20,000 (»£16,000).

For rules, resources and to register, visit the competition  website .

The Cambridge Upper Secondary Science Competition

Age: 16–18 Registration opens: now Closes:  30 September 2023 and 31 March 2024

The  Cambridge Upper Secondary Science Competition , run by Cambridge Assessment, is an exciting extra-curricular activity for teams of aspiring scientists who are studying with the Cambridge IGCSE or O Level science programmes.

Teams of three to six students choose a topic and work on a scientific investigation over 20–25 hours. The competition encourages investigations with some practical or community relevance and an eye on sustainability.

Projects may involve laboratory work and should include creative and collaborative working, critical thinking and reflection. Students should be given the opportunity to present their results to a wider audience, perhaps at a science fair or other school event.

Teachers provide initial project evaluations and the best are put forward for consideration by a panel of experts. The winning team receives a certificate and is featured on the competition website. The competition runs twice a year, so keep abreast of all the dates  on the website .

TeenTech Awards 

Age: 11–16 Registration opens: now Closes:  March 2024 for first-round submissions

The  TeenTech Awards  encourage students to see how they might apply science and technology to real-world problems across several different categories, from food and retail through the future of transport to wearable technology. Students identify an opportunity or a problem, suggest a solution and research the market.

Students can work in teams of up to three people and there are lots of award categories. All submitted projects receive feedback and a bronze, silver or gold award. The event is well supported with training sessions for teachers and students, so everyone knows what to expect and what the judges will be looking for!

The best projects go forward to the TeenTech Awards Final for judging and the winning school in each category will receive a cash prize. The final is expected to take place in London in June 2024.

Schools’ Analyst

Age: 16–17 Registration opens: soon Closes: 23 February 2024

The  Schools’ Analyst Competition  is returning to schools in 2024. Run collaboratively by the Analytical Chemistry Trust Fund and the Royal Society of Chemistry, this event allows students to expand their chemistry knowledge and skills through practical analytical experiments. Students must be in Year 12 (England, Wales, NI)/S5 (Scotland)/5th Year (Ireland).

Schools and colleges register their interest to host a heat and, if randomly selected, can now enter up to 25 teams of three students to compete to be crowned the overall school winner. Each winning school team will then compete within their region to find regional winners. Regional winners receive a cash prize for themselves and their school.

Register your school  to take part by 23 February 2024. To take part, students only need access to standard school laboratory equipment and some consumables (a bursary is available for those who need it).

Equipment boxes are sent to 400 entrants, selected at random, and delivered in advance of the event. Results must be submitted by 17 May in Ireland (to ensure schools have the chance to award winners before the summer holidays) and 14 June elsewhere.

Slingshot Challenge

Age: 13–18 Registration opens: now Closes: 1 February 2024

The  Slingshot Challenge  is run by National Geographic and is an exciting opportunity for students to get involved with the global programme. Students can enter in teams of up to six. Individual entries are welcomed although all entries are expected to involve collaboration with peers, stakeholders, and/or marginalized communities.

Students work to prepare a short, 1-minute video, from topics with an environmental focus. Training sessions for teachers and resource/tool kits are available from the website and the providers can offer feedback and technical support ahead of official submissions.

Videos are expected to put forward compelling, evidence-based information and be engaging for the audience. A small number of motivating prizes are awarded each year to the student of up to $10,000.

For full details see the  Slingshot Challenge website .

UK Chemistry Olympiad 

Age: 16–18 (recommended) Registration opens: September 2023 Closes: January 2024

Run by the RSC, the  UK Chemistry Olympiad  is designed to challenge and inspire older secondary-school students, by encouraging them to push themselves, boost their critical problem-solving skills and test their knowledge in real-world situations.  Explore past papers  to get an idea of the types of questions involved.

There are three rounds that culminate with the prestigious  International Chemistry Olympiad , which will take place this year in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Round 1, a written test taken in your school, is scheduled to take place on 25 January 2024. Students then receive bronze, silver or gold certificates depending on their scores. Up to 30 students will then be selected to move on to the second round – a training weekend at the University of Nottingham. Four students will then be chosen to represent the UK in the international competition from 21–30 July 2024.

To get started, register your school or college. Do this and find out more information about preparing on the  Olympiad homepage .

Top of the Bench

Age: 14–16 Registration opens: soon Closes: January 2024

Top of the Bench  (TOTB) is an annual practical chemistry competition that has been running for over 20 years. It’s a long-standing favourite for students and teachers, and provides an opportunity for students to put their teamwork and practical skills to the test.

Regional heats are led by  RSC local sections  between October and January. The winning team from each heat progresses to the national final, held in the spring at a UK university (where there is also a session for teachers to explore resources and classroom ideas with one of the RSC’s education coordinators).

First prize is awarded to the best overall school performance, with five teams receiving runners up prizes. The Jacqui Clee Award is also awarded each year to the student who makes an outstanding individual contribution.

Teams must consist of four students: two from year 9/S2; one from year 10/S3; one from year 11/S4.

Find more information including past papers and how to apply on the  TOTB homepage .

Imperial College Science & Innovation Competition

Age:  4–adult Registration opens:  September  2023 Closes:  15 December 2023

The  Science & Innovation Competition , run by the Faculty of Natural Sciences at Imperial College, aims to motivate primary and secondary-aged children to engage with science, to encourage them to work as part of a team and engage in fun activities. Adults are also welcome to enter.

Teams of two to four people are asked to develop a new and innovative scientific solution to help achieve one of the  United Nation’s Global Goals for Sustainable Development . To enter, teams need to create a five-minute film that describes the science behind their idea. Finalists are invited to take part in an event during spring 2024 at Imperial College, London (date to be confirmed). Learn more on the  website .

Global essay competition: Young voices in the chemical sciences for sustainability

Age: 35 and under  Registration opens: now Closes: 31 March 2023

An  annual essay competition  on the role of the chemical sciences in sustainability, organised by the International Organization for Chemical Sciences in Development (IOCD) in collaboration with the Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC). The competition is open globally to entrants under 35 years of age. The theme for the 2023 competition is: How can the chemical sciences lead the stewardship of the Earth’s element resources?

Essays will be grouped into seven regions for shortlisting and selection of winners, based on the entrant’s country of normal residence. Each regional winner will receive a prize of US$500 and their entries will be published in  RSC Sustainability . The shortlisted essays will be collected in an annual compendium,  Young voices in the chemical sciences for sustainability , available on the IOCD’s website. Individual shortlisted entries will also be featured from time to time on IOCD’s website.

Essays will be judged on how well they highlight the importance of scientific approaches grounded in the chemical sciences for solving sustainability challenges. Entrants should take a broad, global perspective, and reflect on the intersection of science, society and policy aspects, rather than describing a particular scientific advance in great technical detail. Essays must not exceed 1500 words of body copy.

Cambridge Chemistry Race

Age: 16–18 Registration opens: Mon 5 December 2022 Closes: February 2023

In the  Cambridge Chemistry Race , teams of 3–5 students solve as many theoretical problems as they can over the course of two hours – ranging from easy riddles to tasks of A-level difficulty and complex chemical problems.

Once a team has solved a question, the examiner verifies their answer and hands them the next question. Points are awarded based on the number of successful attempts. Whoever gets the most points wins!

Students are allowed to use a calculator, books, notes, and printed literature. The challenge aims to test problem-solving skills and chemical understanding rather than knowledge. Explore past questions and solutions  here  to get an idea of what’s in store.

Schools may only enter one team each and places are first come first served.

The competition is run in collaboration with the University of Cambridge’s Department of Chemistry. This year, it is joined by the University of Oxford too, so students may compete in either city. The competition will take place on Saturday 4 February 2023. Learn more on the  competition website .

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11 Biology Academic Competitions for High Schoolers

What’s covered:, biology academic competitions for high school students, how to find the best biology academic competitions for you, how do biology academic competitions affect my admissions chances.

Traditionally, many students have pursued a college degree in biology to become a doctor or do research in the biological sciences. Recently, however, biology majors have been prime candidates for biotech companies. Regardless of the career path you want to pursue, if you’re thinking about getting a degree in biology in college, it might be helpful to show some demonstrated interest in the subject while you’re still in high school.

Academic competitions centered around biology are a great way for students to show their interest in the field and to demonstrate their experience with biological themes. Both of these things can really make your college applications stand out from the crowd. Additionally, you can gain valuable team-building and teamwork skills through many of these competitions. These skills are very important to have in most biology-related careers, including laboratory research, medicine, and biotechnology.

1. The Plant the Moon Challenge

Registration Dates: Open until January 20, 2023 (Space Grant application open until December 16, 2022)

Type: International

Judged by NASA scientists, the Plant the Moon Challenge is a global competition that connects biology and astronomy in order to help humanity explore the next frontiers of space—the Moon and Mars.

Teams will receive real lunar soil simulant from the University of Central Florida’s CLASS Exolith Lab around February 2023. Using their own experimental parameters, the teams will grow plants for 10 weeks and create a final report on their findings. All participants with completed projects will be invited to showcase their projects at a virtual symposium, where Best-in-Show awards will be presented to teams with the best experiments.

2. The ASHG National DNA Day Essay Contest

Submission Dates: Submission site open from early January 2023 to early March 2023

To commemorate National DNA Day, April 25, the American Society of Human Genetics holds an annual essay contest. The essay topic varies from year to year, but always asks students to examine, question, and reflect on important concepts in genetics. The 2023 essay theme is “One Humanity, Many Genomes.” 

Within 750 words, students in grades 9 through 12 will explain what that phrase means to them while also examining what makes genomes unique and how advances in understanding our genome impact our lives every day. Prizes awarded to students include $1,000, $600, and $400 for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place, respectively. These amounts are also awarded to winners’ schools in genetics materials grants. There are 10 honorable mention prizes of $100 each.

3. Regeneron International Science & Engineering Fair

Registration Dates: Vary by state (Most between late 2022 and Feb. 2023)

Type: Affiliated Regional and State Fairs to Qualify, but ISEF is International

The Regeneron ISEF is a pre-college science competition open to students in grades 9 through 12. There are 21 STEM subcategories in which students may compete. Biology subcategories include Animal Sciences, Cellular and Molecular Biology, Computational Biology and Bioinformatics, and Microbiology. Students must first win an affiliated local or state fair to gain entry to the ISEF regionals and nationals.

1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th places are awarded in each category with prizes of $5,000, $2,000, $1,000, and $500, respectively. There are also Top Awards given to selected 1st place category winners, which range from $10,000 to $75,000. Additional awards are granted in the form of scholarships, internships, and other prizes to hundreds of student Finalists.

4. The MIT THINK Scholars Program

Registration Dates: Open from November 1, 2022 to January 1, 2023

Type: National

While other competitions tend to involve completing a project, the MIT THINK Scholars Program involves researching and proposing a project. Entries in the competition are written research proposals outlining a novel STEM idea. Many past finalists and winners have submitted biology-centric proposals, making this program a great option for aspiring biology majors.

Semifinalists will be chosen for a round of interviews. After the interview stage, up to six finalists will be selected. Finalists will receive an all-expenses-paid trip to MIT’s campus, scientific mentorship, and funding to implement their proposed projects during the spring of 2023. All finalists will be designated as MIT THINK Scholars upon successful completion of their projects the following May.

5. The BioGENEius Challenge

Registration Dates: Vary by state (Typically between January and late March annually)

Type: Local and Regional Competitions, finalists nationwide present at the BIO International Convention in Boston

The Biotechnology Institute’s flagship BioGENEius Challenge is a competition in which students submit research projects in one of three categories: Global Healthcare, Global Sustainability, and Global Environment.

Finalists representing the top 5% of applicants in state and regional competitions will win a trip to showcase their research at the BIO International Convention to 16,000 attendees and a panel of expert judges. Winners of the International competition will receive trophies and thousands of dollars in cash prizes.

6. Regeneron Science Talent Search

Registration Dates: Opens June 1, 2023 and closes in mid-November 2023

The Regeneron STS is the oldest science and math competition for high school seniors in the United States. In this competition, students present original science or math research, conducted independently or in collaboration with teams at universities, hospitals, or private research laboratories. There are many past finalists who have presented projects in biology and biotechnology.

300 semifinalist scholars are awarded $2,000, along with $2,000 for their respective high schools. The top 40 finalists chosen from the 300 semifinalist scholars win a trip to Washington, DC, where they will present their research to thousands of visitors. The top 10 finalists will be awarded prizes ranging from $40,000 to $250,000, the largest scientific prize available to United States high school students.

7. The National Ocean Sciences Bowl

Registration Dates: Vary by state (Registration is usually around the end of the year, as competitions take place around February)

Type: 25 Regional Bowls, finalists of each regional competition compete in National Finals

Students compete in regional bowls, competitions that involve answering timed oral and written questions about ocean-related STEM topics such as biology, chemistry, ecology, and technology. The top team in each regional bowl will compete in the NOSB National Finals Competition.

The top eight teams in the National Finals will receive a variety of prizes ranging from textbooks and gift certificates, with the 1st and 2nd place teams also receiving experiential summer award trips that include unique hands-on field and laboratory experience in the marine sciences.

8. The Davidson Fellows Scholarship

Registration Dates: Now until February 15. 2023 (applications reviewed on a rolling basis)

The Davidson Fellows Scholarship is one of the most prestigious undergraduate scholarships in the U.S. There are multiple scholarship categories including science, robotics, mathematics, engineering, literature, music, philosophy, and “out of the box.” The science category includes fields like biology.

In the science category, students submit a formal research report with a visual model describing the subject of their research. The best projects in each category are awarded $50,000, $25,000 and $10,000 scholarships.

9. The Genes in Space Challenge

Registration Dates: Typically opens in mid-January

Students design a DNA experiment that addresses challenges in space travel and deep space exploration. Topics are at the students’ discretion and can cover any topic within the field of space biology, from bacterial cell growth to the human immune system. A hypothesis is developed and tested and a final project is submitted around mid-April.

30 semifinalists win small prizes, and five finalists receive mentoring from scientists from Harvard and MIT. The five finalists also present proposals to a panel of judges for a chance to win the national grand prize—a Space Biology Camp experience, a trip to the Kennedy Space Center, and a launch of the winning experiment into space, where astronauts aboard the International Space Station will conduct it!

10. Junior Science and Humanities Symposium (JSHS) Program

Registration Dates: Vary by region (Most between Nov. 2022 and February 2023)

Type: Multi-level (Regional, State, National)

Sponsored by the US military, the JSHS program is a series of competitions intended to mentor students and prepare them for careers in STEM. Students from grades 9 through 12 conduct original research and present it at regional symposia.

Winners of regional competitions present at the JSHS National Symposium. 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place in regional competitions are awarded $2,000, $1,500, and $1,000, respectively. Each of the 1st place national finalists is awarded $12,000. 2nd place finalists win $8,000, and 3rd place finalists win $4,000.

11. The iGEM Competition

Registration Dates: Typically open from until April annually

In the International Genetically Engineered Machine Competition, student teams from around the world design, build, and test projects using synthetic biology. Teams are free to choose their project topic, as long as it is within the field of synthetic biology.

Experimental design and implementation generally occur from February to August, at which point teams should document their findings and construct their reports. Teams present their projects at the annual iGEM Grand Jamboree, near the end of the year, where a massive panel of hundreds of judges cast their votes. Winning teams will receive gold, silver, or bronze medals.

It’s not always clear which academic competitions are worth entering and which ones you should pass on. To help you in your competition search, here are some quick rules of thumb to follow:

Find competitions in topics that you are interested in. If you’re interested in neuroscience, don’t look at competitions that focus on botany. Many competitions specialize in a certain STEM field, so this could narrow down your options considerably.

Be realistic about what you can and can’t handle. Some competitions require you to submit a simple essay, whereas some require you to build your own invention and prototype. Be honest about how advanced your skillset is and what you have time for as a student. There’s no use in signing up for a competition only to drop later or submit a product that is not your best work.

Talk to your counseling office. Many high school counselors or college advisors have a repository of interesting opportunities for their students, including academic competitions. Go to your counseling office and see if your school offers any such resources.

Use your teachers. In particular, your science teachers. Your teachers may be a great resource in helping you find a competition that is right for you. They may also serve as a great mentor and assistant as you create your competition submission. Don’t be afraid to approach these people for help!

Your participation in STEM competitions can influence your chances at college admission, but this depends on many factors, including the scope of the event (e.g., state vs. national), the prestige of the event, your individual performance in the event, the event’s connections to or sponsorships by certain colleges, and even how much weight a college places on extracurricular activities in general.

There are four tiers of extracurricular activities that colleges think about when reviewing applicants’ activities. Selective, competitive, and prestigious activities are often found in the top tiers, Tier 1 and Tier 2. Tier 1 includes things such as being a highly recruited basketball player or an award-winning national science fair competitor. Tier 2 is similar, but is usually reserved for activities that are more common than those in Tier 1. Tiers 3 and 4 are reserved for more common extracurricular achievements, such as holding school leadership positions or being a member of a debate team.

Very prestigious national STEM events such as the Regeneron Science Talent Search and iGEM are Tier 1 events whereas regional or local competitions may fall more into Tier 3 or Tier 4, depending on the competition and your performance.

Do you want to get a sense of how the STEM event you competed in might change your admissions chances at your dream college? CollegeVine has created a free chancing calculator to estimate your odds of getting into hundreds of different colleges and universities! It uses a multitude of factors such as your high school grades, standardized test scores, and extracurricular activities, while also providing feedback on how you can improve your odds.

For More Information

Want to find more academic competitions for high schoolers? Check out these other blog posts:

• 8 STEM Competitions For High Schoolers
• 11 Academic Competitions To Boost Your High School Profile

Related CollegeVine Blog Posts

Peterhouse Kelvin Biological Sciences Essay Competition

The Peterhouse Kelvin Biological Sciences Essay Competition aims to give students the opportunity to explore scientific concepts and topics beyond the classroom, and to engage with scientific research.  

**The 2024 Peterhouse Kelvin Biological Sciences Essay Competition has now closed.

You can see the information about the competition below.

To read a selection of the winning essays from 2024, please click here .

We will publish information about next year's competition in early 2025.**

Who can take part?

The Kelvin Biological Sciences Essay Competition is open to students in their penultimate year of study (Year 12 in England and Wales, S5 in Scotland, Year 13 in Northern Ireland, or equivalent) who are educated in the United Kingdom and Ireland.

Please make sure that you have read the submission guidelines and FAQs sections carefully before entering.

Submission Guidelines

Your essay should be no more than 2,000 words including footnotes and appendices on one of the four questions listed below. You should include a bibliography and ensure that all sources are referenced. The bibliography is excluded from the word limit. We know that not all students will be familiar with referencing, so you might find the following page from the University which includes a Guide to Harvard Referencing helpful ( https://libguides.cam.ac.uk/Official-Publications/referencing ) . Any other standard system of referencing style is also acceptable. Please note that all work should be your own, should not be produced by Artificial Intelligence, and should not include any work that has been or will be submitted to an exam board as part of your studies. The main focus of your essay should not be material previously or currently being studied as part of your school courses.

There is a maximum of four entries per school, preferably across the range of questions. Please note that this limit does not apply to Sixth Form Colleges where year groups are over 1000 students in size. All entries must be approved by a teacher, so please make sure a teacher at your school knows that you are entering. On the submission form you will be asked to provide a name and contact information for the teacher who will be supporting your application. If more than four entries are submitted by one school, we will contact the referees at this school to let us know which submissions are to be considered. Schools with lots of potential entrants may wish to run their own internal competition before the chosen answers are submitted to us for consideration.

 We are unable to consider any essays which have not been submitted by the deadline.

Your essay must be submitted as a PDF. Please ensure that all pages in your essay are numbered, and that your name and school appears clearly on the first page. You should name your PDF file in the following format: Question number-Surname-First Initial e.g. Q2-Smith-T. Your teacher will then receive an email from Peterhouse asking them to confirm that you are eligible and that your essay complies with our guidelines. 

Kelvin Biological Sciences Essay Competition Questions – 2024

• Why do duckbill platypuses fluoresce under UV light?
• Mitochondria are always shown as ovals; in reality they come in all sorts of shapes and sizes. Why?
• Why are there so few venomous mammals and no birds, whereas there are so many venomous reptiles?
• Reintroduction of ecosystem engineers (e.g. beavers) can have major impacts on the environment. What species would you reintroduce (or introduce) to the British Isles and why has this not been done already?

Can I answer more than one of the four questions for the 2024 Kelvin Essay Competition?

We ask that students only submit one essay per person.

Can I make any changes once I have submitted my essay using the above form?

Please note that once you have submitted your entry it is not possible to make any changes – please ensure you are happy with your work before pressing ‘submit’.

Will I receive feedback on my essay?

Unfortunately, due to the high volume of submissions, it is not possible to provide feedback on individual essays.

Why do I need to include contact information for a teacher at my school, and who should this be?

After you submit your essay we get in touch with a contact at your school so that they can confirm you are eligible for the competition, and that the essay is your own work. This can be any teacher at your school who knows you, for example, the Head of Biology, one of your subject teachers, your form tutor, or your Head of Year.

The competition has a prize pool of £750, which will be shared between the winners. Winners will be contacted by email - please make sure your contact details are entered correctly! A prizegiving ceremony will be held in Cambridge in the summer.

If you have any further questions relating to the competition, please email us at [email protected] .  

• [email protected]
• (650) 338-8226

Cupertino, CA

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13 Biology Competitions for High School Students

By Eric Eng

The “13 Biology Competitions for High School Students” listicle is designed to guide you through some of the top competitions in biology. From tackling complex environmental issues to delving into the intricacies of human neuroscience, these competitions provide a spectrum of opportunities for young biologists to excel.

Participation in such competitions enhances a student’s resume and offers invaluable experiences that foster growth, critical thinking, and a deeper appreciation for the life sciences. As we explore these top biology competitions for high school students, we invite you to discover platforms where young talent meets the forefront of scientific exploration and innovation.

1. American Society of Human Genetics DNA Day Essay Contest

• Location : Global
• Registration Fee : No fee mentioned
• Important Dates : Submission opens early January, closes March 6, winners announced April 25
• Eligibility : Students in grades 9-12 worldwide

The American Society of Human Genetics DNA Day Essay Contest is a standout event among biology competitions for high school students, celebrating the field of genetics engagingly and educationally. This contest commemorates two key milestones in genetics: the completion of the Human Genome Project and the discovery of DNA’s double helix structure.

It encourages students in grades 9-12 worldwide to delve into important genetics concepts through essay writing. Participants are expected to present well-reasoned arguments demonstrating a deep understanding of scientific concepts related to the essay question. The contest is judged by ASHG members across multiple rounds, focusing on scientific accuracy, evidence-based arguments, writing quality, and appropriate referencing.

With cash prizes for top essays and an aim to foster a deeper appreciation of genetics among young scholars, this contest is a valuable platform for aspiring scientists to showcase their knowledge and critical thinking skills.

2. The BioGENEius Challenge

• Location : Varies by state; finalists present at the BIO International Convention in Boston.
• Registration Fee : may vary by state.
• Important Dates : Registration typically between January and late March annually.
• Eligibility : High school students submitting research projects in specific categories.

The BioGENEius Challenge stands out among the top biology competitions for high school students, primarily focusing on the exciting fields of biotechnology and life sciences. This competition is a platform for budding young scientists to showcase their research projects in one of three categories: Global Healthcare, Global Sustainability, and Global Environment.

The structure of the BioGENEius Challenge involves state and regional competitions, with the top 5% of participants advancing to present their research at the prestigious BIO International Convention in Boston.

This opportunity allows students to gain significant exposure and interact with a wide range of experts and professionals from the biotech industry. Winners are awarded trophies and substantial cash prizes, making this a highly sought-after contest for students passionate about biotechnology and its applications in solving global issues.

3. Brain Awareness Video Contest

• Important Dates : Specific dates for 2024 not provided
• Eligibility : No specific eligibility criteria mentioned

The Brain Awareness Video Contest is a notable entry in biology competitions for high school students, offering a unique blend of science education and creative expression. Hosted by the Society for Neuroscience and BrainFacts.org, this contest invites students to create original videos that are both educational and entertaining, focusing on various neuroscience concepts.

Emphasizing the importance of sleep for teenagers, entrants compete by submitting short videos that explain why sleep is crucial to their success in different aspects of life. The contest rewards creativity, informative content, and popularity of the videos, making it an excellent opportunity for students to engage with neuroscience dynamically and positively.

4. Coleopterists Society Youth Incentive Award

• Important Dates : Application typically due by November 1st annually
• Eligibility : Junior (grades 7-9) and Senior (grades 10-12) categories

The Coleopterists Society Youth Incentive Award is a unique opportunity for high school students in biology competitions, focusing on studying beetles. This award program encourages young entomologists by providing financial support for their projects related to beetle research.

The competition is divided into two categories, Junior and Senior, catering to different grade levels, and offers grants to support the study of beetles. This award fosters interest in entomology but also aids in developing research skills and scientific inquiry among young students.

5. American Academy of Neurology Neuroscience Research Prize

• Location: Virtual.
• Registration Fee: No mention of a registration fee
• Important Dates: The application period is closed (The deadline was November 2, 2023).
• Eligibility: Students must enroll in the United States in secondary school (grades 9-12). Applications must represent original research and the applicant’s original written work.

The American Academy of Neurology’s Neuroscience Research Prize is a distinguished competition among the top biology competitions for high school students, specifically targeting the field of neuroscience.

This competition invites high school students from across the United States to submit their research reports in neuroscience, including brain and nervous system studies. Participants must provide a 300-word abstract along with their research, evaluated by a panel of esteemed scientists and physicians.

The competition aims to support and recognize students with strong scientific aptitude and skills in neuroscience research. Winners are awarded cash prizes and fully funded trips to attend prominent scientific meetings. This competition is an excellent platform for young scientists to gain recognition and support for their research endeavors in neuroscience.

6. 2024 Neuroscience for Kids Drawing Contest

• Registration Fee : Not specified
• Important Dates : Submission deadline is typically in February
• Eligibility : Open to various age groups, including Kindergarten to Grade 12, college students, parents, and teachers

The Neuroscience for Kids Drawing Contest, held annually, is an intriguing and creative outlet among biology competitions for high school students. This unique competition invites students from various age groups, including high school students, to express their understanding and appreciation of neuroscience through art.

Participants are encouraged to create hand-drawn illustrations reflecting specific neuroscience themes, judged based on originality, scientific accuracy, and overall design. Open to a global audience, this contest offers an engaging way to explore biology and neuroscience beyond the conventional classroom setting, inspiring artistic and scientific pursuits.

The winners, celebrated for their creativity and understanding of neuroscience, receive prizes that further nurture their interest in the brain and its functions. Following the successful conclusion of its 2023 edition on March 1st, anticipation for another, the 2024 Neuroscience for Kids Writing (Poetry) Contest is already building.

7. American Sleep Medicine Foundation High School Video Contest

• Location : United States
• Important Dates : Submission deadline is typically in late May, with winners announced in June.
• Eligibility : Open to high school students enrolled in a public, private, or home school in the U.S.

The American Sleep Medicine Foundation High School Video Contest is a distinctive entry in the array of biology competitions for high school students. It challenges participants to create original videos emphasizing the importance of sleep for teens.

Focused on various aspects of a teen’s life, the contest encourages students to be creative and informative in their approach, highlighting how sleep impacts areas like health, safety, sports, and relationships.

This competition raises awareness about sleep health and provides a platform for students to showcase their storytelling and filmmaking skills. The initiative is a unique blend of science education and creative expression, offering a stimulating opportunity for high school students to explore and communicate scientific concepts related to biology and health

8. BioenergizeME Infographic Challenge

• Important Dates : Not specified for 2024, but typically involves a submission phase.
• Eligibility : High school students in the United States, working in teams.

The BioenergizeME Infographic Challenge stands out in biology competitions for high school students. Sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Bioenergy Technologies Office, it invites teams of high school students to delve into the bioenergy world.

Participants are tasked with creating infographics that explore various aspects of bioenergy, including its sources, production, benefits, and challenges. This competition not only promotes learning about a key area of biology but also hones skills in research, data analysis, and graphic design. The challenge’s focus on infographics offers a unique blend of scientific inquiry and creative expression, allowing students to present complex information in a visually appealing and accessible format.

9. iGEM Competition

• Location : Global; 2024 World Championship virtually in conjunction with Neuroscience 2024 in Chicago, Illinois
• Important Dates : October 5-9, 2024 (exact dates TBD)
• Eligibility : Participants must have won the highest level of Brain Bee competition in their country

The International Genetically Engineered Machine (iGEM) Competition is a prestigious global event that stands as a pillar among biology competitions for high school students. This competition provides a platform for young innovators to explore the field of synthetic biology by developing genetically engineered systems using standard biological parts.

Teams of students design, build, and test their projects, showcasing them at the iGEM Jamboree. The competition nurtures scientific ingenuity and emphasizes collaboration, ethics, and the responsible use of biotechnology. It is a convergence of science, engineering, and biotechnology, challenging students to push the boundaries of biological research and innovation.

10. Junior Science and Humanities Symposium

• Important Dates : 62nd National JSHS scheduled for May 1-4, 2024
• Eligibility : High school students

The Junior Science and Humanities Symposium (JSHS) is a renowned event among biology competitions for high school students. This symposium offers a platform for students to present original research in STEM fields. Participants compete for scholarships and recognition by presenting their findings before a panel of judges and an audience of their peers.

The JSHS fosters a culture of scientific inquiry and exploration among high school students, encouraging them to pursue careers in science and engineering. This competition emphasizes academic excellence and encourages effective communication skills and scientific collaboration.

11. International Brain Bee

• Location : 2024 World Championship virtually in Chicago, Illinois
• Important Dates : During October 5-9, 2024 (exact dates TBD)
• Eligibility : National champions of Brain Bee competitions

The International Brain Bee is a prominent educational competition within the realm of biology competitions for high school students. It aims to motivate students to learn about the human brain and inspire them to pursue careers in neuroscience. Based on real clinical cases, participants engage in rigorous tests, including neuroanatomy, neurohistology, and patient diagnosis.

This global event unites young minds from various countries, fostering international cooperation and knowledge sharing in neuroscience. The Brain Bee challenges students to deepen their understanding of the brain’s structure, function, and disorders, nurturing a new generation of neuroscientists.

12. USA Biology Olympiad (USABO)

• Location : National Finals are conducted at a host university (location may vary).
• Registration Fee : Not explicitly mentioned; schools or authorized centers typically handle registration.
• Important Dates : The application period is closed (The deadline was January 14, 2024).
• Eligibility : High school students (grades 9 to 12) in the U.S., including home-schooled students. U.S. citizens or legal permanent residents for progression beyond the Open Exam​​​.

The USA Biology Olympiad (USABO) is one of the most prestigious competitions listed among the top biology competitions for high school students, focusing specifically on biology. The USABO challenges students across the United States with a rigorous examination process designed to test their knowledge and understanding of various biological concepts.

The competition involves multiple rounds of exams, starting with the USABO Open Exam, then the Semifinal Exam, and culminating in the National Finals, a residential training program. Twenty finalists are trained in advanced biological concepts and lab skills at the National Finals.

The top four students from the finals form the USA Biolympiad Team, representing the United States at the International Biology Olympiad. This competition is known for its high standards and is an excellent opportunity for students to push their limits and gain recognition on an international stage.

13. The Davidson Fellows Scholarship

• Location: National level, but specific location details for presentations have yet to be mentioned.
• Registration Fee: No mention of a registration fee.
• Important Dates: Applications are open until February 15 and reviewed regularly.
• Eligibility: Multiple categories including science, for students with a research report and visual model.

The Davidson Fellows Scholarship is a prestigious award and a notable entry in top biology competitions for high school students. This scholarship program is designed to recognize and support extraordinary young talents who have completed significant projects in science and other fields like mathematics, literature, music, and philosophy.

High school students are encouraged to submit comprehensive research reports accompanied by visual models within the science category. The scholarship targets students who demonstrate advanced intellectual and academic achievements.

Winners receive substantial scholarship funds, contributing significantly to their educational pursuits. The Davidson Fellows Scholarship is not just a competition but a recognition of young visionaries who have the potential to contribute groundbreaking work in their respective fields.

Whether through presenting groundbreaking research, engaging in team-based challenges, or representing their country on an international stage, students participating in these competitions gain recognition and invaluable skills and experiences. These competitions are more than mere contests; they are incubators for the next generation of scientists, innovators, and leaders in biology.

For students looking to make their mark in science, participation in these competitions can be a transformative step in their academic and professional journeys, opening doors to new discoveries, mentorship opportunities, and a global network of like-minded individuals. Let this listicle be a guiding light for ambitious young biologists eager to explore the depths of their passion and make a meaningful impact in science.

Want to assess your chances of admission? Take our FREE chances calculator today!

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The Antibody Society

the official website of the antibody society

An international non-profit supporting antibody-related research and development.

Science Writing Competition

The next Science Writing Competition for

Student & post-doc members opens march 1, 2024, in the meantime, you can read the winning essays here ..

Clear, concise communication is essential to make your science accessible! The Antibody Society is offering you a chance to grow this skill through a Science Writing Competition . You will hone your ability to research a topic, synthesize knowledge, and express yourself in a coherent and persuasive manner by participating in this competition.

We invite you to submit an essay of 1200 – 1500 words on a topic related to antibody research. Feel free to use an eye-catching self-generated high-resolution graphic (jpg format) to help make your main point. Relevant topics include, but are not limited to:

• Antibody engineering
• Antibody therapeutics
• Fc effector function and neutralization
• Bispecific antibodies
• Antibody-drug conjugates
• Adaptive immune receptor repertoires

 Winners receive broad exposure of their work, a $400 cash prize, and the option of a free registration to: 1) Schrödinger’s online course, Introduction to Computational Antibody Engineering ; or 2) virtual Antibody Engineering & Therapeutics .  

Two winners (1 student, 1 post-doc) will be selected by our panel of judges based on the originality, creativity, clarity, and structure of their essays.

Send your essay to [email protected] as a Word document. The first 30 submissions will be considered for the competition. Please include your contact details and whether you are a student or post-doc in your email.

Essay submission deadline: May 15, 2024

Essays should be written for a general reader. Guidance on effective scientific writing can be found here and here .

Entry is limited to The Antibody Society student and post-doc members.

Not a member? Register for your free membership!

View winning essays from previous Science Writing Competitions here

Please note that all entrants must abide by the competition rules:.

The Science Writing Competition is open only to Society student and postdoctoral members ( membership is free ). Essays must be the original work of the entrant. Essays should be no more than 1500 words. Entries should be submitted to [email protected] in Word format. Entries submitted after the deadline will not be considered. Essays that have won prizes in other competitions are not eligible. By entering you grant permission for the essay be published on the Society’s website if you are selected as a winner.

This competition is organized and managed by the Society’s Communications & Membership Committee .

• Privacy & Terms of Use
• Directors and Officers
• Sponsors & Partners
• Mission & Activities
• Join the Society
• Membership Levels
• Members only
• Antibody therapeutics approved or in regulatory review in the EU or US
• Meeting reports
• Presentations

Essay Contest

Congratulations to the 2024 Essay Contest winners !

About the Contest

The Lasker Essay Contest engages early career scientists and clinicians from the US and around the globe in a discussion about big questions in biology and medicine and the role of biomedical research in our society today. The Contest aims to build skills in communicating important medical and scientific issues to broad audiences. The topic is announced annually in early February, and winners are announced in mid-July.

Eligibility

The Contest is open to medical school students, interns, residents, and fellows; doctoral students and postdoctoral fellows in biomedical sciences; and graduate students training in health professions programs e.g., public health, dental, pharmacy, etc who are currently doing research. Applicants (from the US or any other countries) must be currently participating in an educational program. This program may be located in any country.

Winners will receive up to $5,000. Monetary prizes will be directed to the winner’s university to be used towards the winner’s educational expenses.

Essays should be 800 words or less and must be written in English. We allow only one essay submission per applicant, and the essay must be written by a single author. The use of any generative AI tool (e.g. ChatGPT) in composing an entry is prohibited – all essays will be screened with software designed to detect use of AI. Essays need to be original; content previously published will be disqualified.The file containing the essay should include the essay title and the applicant’s name, email, and institutional affiliation. The 800-word limit applies to the body of the essay. Field-specific scientific jargon should be avoided or explained.

Evaluation Criteria

Essays will be evaluated based on their originality, quality of writing, style, and clarity. Essays that are not written in English or are longer than 800 words will not be considered.

Publication

The winning essays will be published in the July issue of The Journal of Clinical Investigation .

All Winners

Meet the Winners of the 2024 Essay Contest and Read the Essays

Meet the Winners of the 2023 Essay Contest and Read the Essays

Meet the Winners of the 2022 Lasker Essay Contest

The 2022 Lasker Essay Contest

Meet the Winners of the 2021 Lasker Essay Contest

The 2021 Lasker Essay Contest

Winners of the 2020 Lasker Essay Contest

Winners of the 2019 Lasker Essay Contest

Winners of the 2018 Essay Contest

Winners of the 2017 Essay Contest

Winners of the 2016 Essay Contest

Winners of 2015 Essay Contest: The “Research Challenge”

2014 Essay Contest: Supporting Medical Research

Read the winning essays.

Kevin S. Blake Missing microbiomes: global underrepresentation restricts who research will benefit

Catherine M. Bridges Illuminating maternal sepsis: a call for improved recognition and prevention

Andrea M. Maxwell What happens to the brain during pregnancy?

A Subashan Vadibeler The (unresolved) antibody paradox

Sarah Voss The enemy of my enemy is my friend

Allison R. Chen Research Training in an AI World

Louise O. Downs Is a Test Better Than No Test When There Is No Treatment?

Ayush Kumar Using HG1222 — A Perspective Into the Ethics of Collecting Biospecimens

Salman E. Qasim The Human Brain: The Final Frontier and the Wild West

Sneha P. Rath Cementing the Bricks

Kaelyn Cummins Microbes, Medicine, and Astronauts: Reflections on a Collaborative Project

Azmina Karukappadath Two Fields, One Dream

Hussain Lalani I Would Be Scared if I Heard That Too

Rutvij Merchant Pathways to Global Health Equity: More Seats, Fresh Perspectives

Kirti Nath Puzzles

Avik Ray Unified Diversity: The Team Game

Ziad Ali What Happens Now?

Banafsheh Nazari Embracing Technology, the Pandemic’s Lesson for Us

Trisha Pasricha One more question

Miriam Saffern My Mother is a Layperson

Adina Schonbrun The Cornerstone of Scientific Success: Unsung Frontline Heroes of the COVID-19 Pandemic

Emily Ashkin Michael Bishop: A Scientist for the Next Generation

David Basta For the Love of Science

Avash Das Michael Brown and Joseph Goldstein: Tribute to My Inspiration

William Dunn Sweet Are the Uses of Adversity

Safwan Elkhatib Salk, Sabin, and the Crown of Health

Laurel Gabler Putting “People’s Health in People’s Hands”: How the Bangs Inspired my Personal Journey

Kwabena Kusi-Mensah As One Single Tribe: Thinking Globally and Locally

Lisa Learman With the Corn, Against the Grain

Olivia Lucero Genetics as a Tool for Generational Empowerment

Hannah Mason My Gym Genie: Gathering Inspiration from Dr. John Schiller

Samantha Wong Fauci: Science as a Voice of Reason

Grace Beggs Game On: Smartphone Technology for Science Education

Peter John Making it All Fun and Games in the Biomedical Sciences

Dereck Paul Pathways: A National Mentorship Program for High School Students Underrepresented in Science and Medicine

David Hartmann Cancer Survivors: Outstanding Advocates for Trust in Science

Debra Karhson A Verification Vaccine for Social Contagion

Caroline Vissers Diversity at the Top of the Social Media Signaling Cascade

Abigail Cline Science and Cinema: From the Benchtop to the Big Screen

Tammy Tran Science Is Everywhere: Unexpected Science Encounters in the Course of Everyday Life

Michael Wu Search for Science: Smart Search-Linked Discussion Forums

Jennifer Bratburd Breaking through Barriers to Science with Citizen Science

Apurva Lunia Dissemination of Biomedical Research Via Multimedia Platforms Using Existing Healthcare Frameworks

Jessica Sagers Let’s Get Real: (Re)making Scientists Into People

David Ottenheimer Modern Neuroscience Has the Tools to Treat Psychiatric Illness

Therese Woodring (Korndorf) Hacking the Bacterial Social Network: Quorum Sensing and the Future of Microbial Management

Unikora Yang The Cutting Edge of DNA Editing: Translating CRISPR to Improve Human health

David Hill Mutual Understanding: Uncovering the Mechanistic Basis of the Host-Symbiont Relationship in Human Health

Joseph Rathkey In Silico Modeling as an Ideal Platform for Future Biological Research and Discovery

Stephanie Ng Depression and the Final Frontier

Omar Toubat Mastering the Genetic Reprogramming of Cells

Peter Soh Offering Incentives for Future Scientists

Michael Burel Catalyzing Broad Public Interest in Scientific Research

Nick Andresen Crowdsourcing a Medical Research Donation Database

Gregg Gonsalves Researchers as Advocates and Activists

Realizing the benefits of human genetics and genomics research for people everywhere.

Annual DNA Day Essay Contest

ASHG is proud to support National DNA Day through the Annual DNA Day Essay Contest. DNA Day commemorates the completion of the Human Genome Project in April 2003 and the discovery of the double helix of DNA in 1953.

This contest is open to students in grades 9-12 worldwide and asks students to examine, question, and reflect on important concepts in genetics. Essays are expected to be well-reasoned arguments that indicate a deep understanding of scientific concepts related to the essay question. They are evaluated by ASHG members through three rounds of scoring.

2024 Question

Many human diseases have a genetic component. Some diseases result from a change in a single gene or even multiple genes. Yet, many diseases are complex and stem from an interaction between genes and the environment. Environmental factors may include chemicals in the air or water, nutrition, microbes, ultraviolet radiation from the sun and social context. Provide an example of how the interplay of genetics and environment can shape human health.

Important Dates

• Early January, 2024: Submission site opens
• March 6, 2024: Submission site closes
• April 25, 2024: DNA Day! Winners and Honorable Mentions announced

1st Place Winner: $1,000 for student $1,000 genetics materials grant

2nd Place Winner: $600 for student $600 genetics materials grant

3rd Place Winner: $400 for student $400 genetics materials grant

Honorable Mentions : 10 student prizes of $100 each

Questions? Email [email protected]

The rubric below is used by judges to evaluate every essay in the second and third rounds of judging.

Rules & Requirements

• No LLM (large-language model) tool will be accepted as a credited author on this essay. That is because any attribution of authorship carries with it accountability for the work, and AI tools cannot take such responsibility. Students using LLM tools should document this use in the citations section.
• Essays must be submitted by a teacher or administrator and written by high school students (grades 9-12) in the U.S. and internationally. Parents may submit essays if the student is home schooled.
• Essays must be written by one individual student; group submissions are not permitted.
• Essays must be in English and no more than 750 words. Word count includes in-text citations, but not reference lists.
• Submissions should not include the student’s name in the essay text. This helps with impartial judging.
• Essays must include at least one reference. References should be clearly documented with both in-text citations and in the references list. The reference list should be separately entered in the “References” section of the submission page.
• APA or MLA style can be used for citations. There is no limit on how many references students may use, but they should avoid too many references, as judges want to know the student’s opinion on the question and not the opinion of the resources.
• Quality of references will be considered by judges when scoring.
• Only classroom teachers are eligible for the equipment grant.
• Teachers of first-place winners from 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023 are not eligible for equipment grants in 2024.

Please Note Text from essays may be used for research purposes to identify misconceptions, misunderstandings, and areas of student interest in genetics. Student text may be published on the ASHG website, newsletter, or in other ASHG publications.

Plagiarism will not be tolerated. The text of the student’s essay must be his or her own words unless quotations are explicitly noted. If plagiarism is suspected during any point of the contest, the essay in question will be examined. Essays found to contain the uncited work of others will be disqualified and the student’s teacher will be notified. Plagiarism.org gives a helpful explanation of what plagiarism is.

How many essays can one student submit? Only one entry per student.

How many essays can one teacher submit on behalf of students? Each teacher may submit up to six student essays per class, for up to three classes.

What are low-quality a high-quality sources? A low-quality source is one that doesn’t guarantee accurate information, such as Wikipedia. High-quality sources include research journals, such as those accessible through PubMed.

What is included in the 750-word count, and what is not?

• All text in the essay, in-line citations/references, headings and titles, and image captions are included in the word count
• The reference list is the only text not included in the word count.

Should references have a separate page? The reference list will be submitted separately in the “references” section of the submission site. Everything will be included on one page once the essay is submitted.

Is there a standard font or margin size preferred? No. Once the essay is copied and pasted into the submission site, it will be formatted to fit our standard margins and fonts.

How do I submit my essay if my teacher cannot do it for me? Try to find any other teacher or guidance counselor at your school who can submit for you. If this isn’t an option, please email us at [email protected] .

Can my guidance counselor or another school administrator submit my essay for me? Yes.

Can I submit for my student who is currently studying abroad? Students must be studying at the same school as the teacher who submits their essays.

Can I change information after I have submitted? No, please make sure all information is correct before submitting because it will be final.

How does the teacher vouch for the originality of the student’s work? Your submission represents your authentication that the essays are the original work of your students.

I submitted late. Will my essay still be judged? Late submissions will not be judged.

Where’s the confirmation email? It may take some time for the email to get to you. If you haven’t received it by the end of the day, either check your junk mailbox or double check that the email address you provided is correct. If neither of those options work, email [email protected] .

Summarized below are some of the most common issues judges note in reading submitted essays.

• Too much focus on details. A focus on details to the detriment of demonstrating a clear understanding of the big picture. Judges are much more forgiving of errors in details than errors in fundamental concepts and larger ideas.
• Overstating. Sweeping and grandiose overstatements of the current/future state and/or utility of biotechnology or biomedical science.
• Inaccuracy in technical language. Judges know you do not know all the “science jargon,” so don’t feel obligated to use it.
• Lack of in-text citations in, or lack of citations for information that is not considered common knowledge. If you got the information from somewhere else, cite the source.
• Using out-of-date references. Scientific understanding changes very rapidly, and references that are more than five years old are likely to have outdated ideas.
• Using too many quotes. Although occasional use is warranted, too many quotes lead judges to think the author doesn’t grasp the topic.

Check out the links below for excerpts from past winners’ essays!

Want to become a judge? If you are a current-year ASHG member, you will receive an email each February inviting you to volunteer. If you did not receive the email or cannot locate it, please contact [email protected] . You can also volunteer by the visiting the ASHG involvement page. You may forward the judge recruiting email ONLY to fellow ASHG current members. The deadline to sign up as a judge is the usually the end of February for that year’s Contest. If you have questions about future years, please contact [email protected]

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Enquiries: [email protected]

Dundee: 01382 221 221

Dedicated to the advancement of research in all branches of cell biology.

Science Writing Prize Winner 2022

In Search of the Holy Grail

Would you choose to live forever? And, more importantly, can you? The quest to slow ageing is possibly the oldest pursuit in medical research, with ancient societies trialling remedies such as alchemy, curative waters and drinking gold (which was of course toxic). For good reason, the question of whether we can create an elixir of life has been a controversial one in the scientific community. Anti-ageing medications have been brought to market without evidence that they work in humans 1 , and other treatments have caused lab animals to grow ‘teratomas’ (terrifying cancers which can contain teeth, hair and bone; google if you feel brave…). While many medical organisations still do not recognise anti-ageing medicine, a growing number of scientists (and billionaires) believe we may be mere years away from the development of a pill to treat ageing.

But what does ‘anti-ageing’ actually mean?

Without a doubt, advances in medicine and public heath have radically improved life expectancy. However, this quality of life is poor, with 74% of people globally dying from diseases of ageing, such as cancer, cardiovascular disease and dementia 2 . Thus, the focus of anti-ageing research is not to increase lifespan, but instead ‘healthspan’. The ‘geroscience hypothesis’ proposes that by treating the physiological signs of ageing we will consequently cure related diseases. Simultaneously, we may also curb cosmetic features associated with getting older, which is a nice little bonus.

Various mechanisms in cell biology contribute to the ‘hallmarks of ageing’ 3 . Firstly, throughout our lives our cells are constantly dividing. While this keeps us alive, replicating cells accumulate mutations in their DNA; the longer we live, the more our cells must divide and the more genetic mutations we accrue. These mutations disrupt the normal functioning of our cells and are best known for their cancerous properties.

While our genes serve as the instructions for how our cells behave, our epigenetics dictate which genes are ‘read’. It’s this phenomenon which allows all the cells in our body to have the same genetic sequence but to look and act completely differently. As we get older, we develop ‘epigenetic drift’, which leads to aberrant cell behaviour.

The vulnerable ends of our genome are protected by extra pieces of DNA called telomeres. As our cells divide telomeres get shorter, eventually triggering cell death by ‘senescence’. Senescent cells release damaging chemicals and immune senescence leads to chronic inflammation, both of which promote ageing. Furthermore, older tissues become depleted of stem cells, which are required to replace dying cells, causing both senescent cells and DNA damage to amass.

One of the best evidenced longevity boosters is dietary restriction (Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey fasts for 22 hours a day). Unsurprising then, that deregulated nutrient sensing is a hallmark of ageing. Nutrient level is detected by specific proteins in our cells, which in response mediate changes in cell growth, immune function and metabolism. The nutrient-sensors, and many other systems in our body, participate in cell-to-cell communication. As we get older, these networks malfunction, contributing to development of diseases like type 2 diabetes and atherosclerosis. Another trait of ageing is central to the development brain disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease. This ‘failure of proteostasis’ is characterised by protein misfolding and an imbalance in protein abundance.

Finally, mitochondria, the energy-producing centres of the cell, produce ‘reactive oxygen species’ (ROS), which were initially thought to drive ageing. However, this has since been contested, and ROS may in fact promote longevity. However, dysfunctional mitochondria still contribute to ageing through regulation of cell death and inflammation.

All sounds pretty inevitable…

Indeed, our chance of dying doubles every eight years, making many scientists predict a maximum age of around 120 years 4 . However, some animals are luckier. When the Galapagos tortoise and species of BOFFFF (big, old, fat, fertile, female fish, not joking), reach a certain age they enter ‘negligible senescence’ and their chance of dying plateaus 5 . Which means they could live forever, right?

So, if them, why not us?

At this point, you might have guessed one anti-ageing strategy is to target senescence. Indeed, senolytics (which remove senescent cells) and senostatics (which quell the effects of senescent cells) are the focus of many startups, but have not yet shown efficacy in clinical trials 6 . Partial cellular reprogramming is another approached favoured by Silicon Valley moguls such as Jeff Bezos. The discovery of Yamanaka factors and their ability to restore a cell to its younger epigenetic state won Shinya Yamanaka the 2012 Nobel Prize. However, this approach is tricky; exposing cells to these factors for too long can lead to the development of those nasty teratomas. It’s likely that other genes involved in cell reprogramming will need to be found, with Google’s Calico Labs admitting that research on Yamanaka factors is “not something where we’re thinking clinically” 7 .

One of the more gruesome methods to slow ageing is a transfusion of babies’ blood. The startup Ambrosia sold adolescent blood transfusions for $8000 a litre (or grab yourself a bargain with $12000 for two) until it was shut down by the FDA in 2019 8 . However, parabiosis has been shown to reduce age-associated inflammation, increase stem cell capacity and even improve neurological function. Faecal transplants may similarly benefit older patients; transfer of the gut microbiome can improve nutrient sensing and weight regulation. Existing drugs metformin, a diabetes medication, and rapamycin, an anticancer compound, could be repurposed to treat ageing, again through targeting our nutrient sensing systems. Rapamycin has already shown some promise in the 2020 Dog Ageing Project (possibly the cutest ageing trial so far) 9 .

The above examples represent just a trickle of the many avenues being explored in the race to cure ageing. With a treatment potentially around the corner, is it time to rethink our views on the inevitability of getting older? And which therapy has your backing? Or maybe we should just take the advice of the oldest human in history, 122-year-old Jeanne Calment: she attributed her longevity to cigarettes and chocolate.

• Callaway, E. GlaxoSmithKline strikes back over anti-ageing pills. Nature (2010). doi:10.1038/news.2010.412
• World health statistics 2021: monitoring health for the SDGs, sustainable development goals . (2021).
• López-Otín, C., Blasco, M. A., Partridge, L., Serrano, M. & Kroemer, G. The Hallmarks of Aging. Cell 153 , 1194–1217 (2013).
• Finch, C. E. & Pike, M. C. Maximum Life Span Predictions From the Gompertz Mortality Model. Journals Gerontol. Ser. A 51A , B183–B194 (1996).
• Finch, C. E. Variations in Senescence and Longevity Include the Possibility of Negligible Senescence. Journals Gerontol. Ser. A 53A , B235–B239 (1998).
• Dolgin, E. Send in the senolytics. Nat. Biotechnol. 38 , 1371–1377 (2020).
• Eisenstein, M. Rejuvenation by controlled reprogramming is the latest gambit in anti-aging. Nat. Biotechnol. 40 , 144–146 (2022).
• Corbyn, Z. Could ‘young’ blood stop us getting old? The Observer (2020).
• Partridge, L., Fuentealba, M. & Kennedy, B. K. The quest to slow ageing through drug discovery. Nat. Rev. Drug Discov. 19 , 513–532 (2020).

About the author: Amy Stainthorp is a post-doctoral researcher using 3D cell systems to study Barrett’s oesophagus at the University of Leeds. She work in Professor John Ladbury’s group and as part of the Leeds Centre for Disease Models. She recently completed her PhD investigating the regulation of microRNA expression at the University of Leeds.

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12 Best Biology Competitions for High School Students

If you are dreaming of majoring in Biology, you’ll have your work cut out for you because it is one of the most popular majors in college. One way of building up your skills and scholar profile is to participate in research programs. We’ve covered research opportunities for you in our posts on medicine and biology programs. Another very good way of challenging yourself and seeing how you stack up against high-caliber peers is to participate in competitions!

In this blog, we'll cover 12 of the best biology competitions open to high school students, including research proposal competitions, essay competitions , as well as prestigious olympiads .

1. International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF)

Hosted by the Society of Science, the Regeneron ISEF is the world's biggest pre-college STEM competition , inviting entries from thousands of students every year. To participate at Regeneron ISEF, you first must participate in a local or regional level fair and will then be shortlisted for the ISEF program that takes place in a hybrid format each year. It has at maximum a 2-5% acceptance rate at qualifying fairs.

You participate by presenting original research work that has been going on for no longer than 12 months - the more recent, the better. Some subcategories you can present your research in Biology for include cellular and molecular biology, animal sciences, computational biology, bioinformatics, and microbiology .

Working on biology-related research projects and getting shortlisted to present at ISEF is a prestigious opportunity and a great way for you to build a network with like-minded, passionate young students such as yourself.

Tip : We’ve covered everything you need to know about ISEF in this guide !

Dates: Local and regional events take place throughout the year but usually conclude by April. The ISEF Fair will take place from May 13-19, 2023.

Application Deadline: Varies from state to state

Location: Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center - Dallas, Texas

Prizes: Special Awards such as tuition scholarships, summer internships, and scientific trips, as well as cash prizes of up to $75,000

Eligibility: All high-school students with a strong passion for research in science, math, and engineering are encouraged to apply

2. USA Biolympiad (USABO)

If you're passionate about studying Biology in college, the USA Biolympiad is one challenge you should sign up for. A highly coveted, highly competitive olympiad with over 10,000 participants each year, the Biolympiad challenges you with activities, and quizzes (you can check out a complete list of topics here ). As a Biolympiad participant, you must first pass the first two rounds, which include timed online exams.

After these rounds, 20 finalists are selected for a residential training program (at Marymount University) in advanced biological concepts and lab skills. What's more, 4 USABO finalists are also trained to represent the USA at an international level, at the International Biology Olympiad (IBO) in the UAE and compete against teams from 20 countries.

February 2 - Online Open Exam (OE)

March 16 - Semifinal Exam

June 2 - 16 - National Finals

Application Deadline: November 18, 2022

Location: Virtual

Prizes: Medals, awards

Eligibility: All high school students who are US citizens can sign up for the USABO

Tip: Check out a compiled set of biology and STEM resources by the Centre for Excellence in Education here !

3. NSPC Health Science Competition

A program by the Center for Science Teaching & Learning (CSTL), the NSPC Health Science Competition invites experimentation and research on any innovation in the field of medicine .

Open to high-school students, its competition design is a lot like Regeneron's ISEF and invites some of the brightest minds from across the country to participate in teams of up to 3 members. For the first round, you must create a website that covers your research, and results, as well as a discussion and abstract via a presentation, video, digital poster board, etc. Once your entry is scored by medical professionals and you proceed to Round 2, you will present your research to a panel of judges.

NSPC invites entries across categories such as Behavioral Sciences, Microbiology/Genetics, Medicine/Health, Biochemistry/Biophysics Category, and Computational Biology. Here are submissions from past winners !

Dates: May 18, 2023 (based on last year's timetable)

Application Deadline: March 18, 2023 (based on last year's timetable)

Location: Round 1 is hosted virtually, while the location for Round 2 is yet to be announced.

Prizes: Cash prizes of up to $80,000

Eligibility: Any high school student (or team of students) from Nassau or Suffolk can participate, with a $30 registration fee.

4. The Plant the Moon Challenge

Ever wondered what men on the Moon might grow on its surface for sustenance? The Plant the Moon Challenge is an out-of-the-box competition for all biology enthusiasts, and all entries are judged by a panel of NASA scientists .

For the competition, you will be given an adequate amount of lunar soil simulant, and over 10 weeks, you must apply your knowledge of biology and astronomy to successfully grow plants and present your research and methodology to the judging panel after 10 weeks.

This is an exciting challenge for anyone looking to contribute towards better food security for astronauts in space, and the end-of-competition symposium is an excellent, engaging event that provides you with exposure in the field, and a host of networking opportunities!

Tip: Alongside high school students such as yourself, you will also be competing with undergraduates and graduate students - which makes for an excellent learning opportunity. Here are a few winning entries from the 2022 edition!

Dates: February 6 to March 16, 2023

Application Deadline: January 20, 2023

Prizes: Best in Show Awards

Eligibility: Open to all high-school students, including international students.

5. American Academy of Neurology’s Neuroscience Research Prize

A competition aimed at supporting students that demonstrate the scientific aptitude and skill for research, the Neuroscience Research Prize is a great opportunity. If you are a high school student that is interested in, or is already pursuing, research in the field of neuroscience , this competition invites you to send in your research reports.

Along with your research reports, you are also expected to send in a 300-word abstract . Your entry will be judged by a panel of esteemed scientists and physicians . You can submit work that explores the world of the brain and nervous system , and stand a chance to receive support for your further research.

Submission Deadline: November 2, 2022

Prizes: Cash prizes of up to $1000, fully funded trips to the scientific poster session at the AAN 75th Annual Meeting in Boston, MA, and Child Neurology Society Annual Meeting

Eligibility: All high-school students based in the US can apply

6. National Science Bowl

Organized since 1991, the National Science Bowl (hosted by the U.S. Department of Energy) is a coveted, highly competitive competition that aims to encourage students to excel in math and science . The Bowl sees over 1000 students participate every year, and tests you on your knowledge of chemistry, energy, Earth science, physics, biology, and math.

To participate, you must participate in regional rounds , which you can look for here . In teams of 4-5 students, you must be the regional winner in order to be invited for the Science Bowl Finals in Washington D.C.

Dates: Regional Events dates may vary, National Finals are held from April 27 - May 1, 2023.

Application Deadline: Registrations close 3 weeks prior to the date of the regional event.

Location: Varies from state to state, finals are held in Washington D.C.

Prizes: Cash prizes, scholarships

Eligibility: All high school students can participate

7. The BioGENEius Challenge

Spread across three main categories - Healthcare, Sustainability, and Environment, the BioGENEius Challenge invites students to showcase their research in the field of biotech. The program receives thousands of entries each year, and the top 5% of all applicants are invited to the BIO International Convention to present their research.

Depending on your geographic location, you can either directly apply to a virtual edition of the competition or enter through various local and regional-level events . Here are a couple of examples of the type of research you can undertake in each of the three categories -

Global Healthcare Challenge: Using algae to synthesize a chemical reactant for the synthesis of a complex antibiotic.

Global Sustainability Challenge: Using nutritional lipid-modified algae to reduce fishmeal requirements in aquaculture.

Global Environment Challenge: Using lipid-optimized algae as an alternative energy source for low-weight hydrocarbon fuels.

Your research options are virtually limitless, and participating in this competition can give your resume and research skills an edge!

Dates: Vary from state to state.

Application Deadline: Vary from state to state, but registrations close by late March

Location: Local competitions are hosted in California (Bay Area & Southern), Colorado, Delaware, Georgia, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Maryland, New Mexico, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Virginia.

For international participants, the challenge is virtual, and the top finalist is invited to the BIO symposium in Boston.

Prizes: Cash prizes, awards

Eligibility: All high school students are eligible to apply, including international students

8. The National Ocean Sciences Bowl

The National Ocean Sciences Bowl (NOSB) is an annual competition for high school students that tests their knowledge of ocean sciences and marine biology and ability to solve real-world issues in oceans.

The NOSB is conducted in almost every state and is a highly competitive, highly enriching experience for any high school student interested in biology and specifically, marine sciences. To participate in this challenge, you must form a team of at least 4 students, and participate in local challenges to move forward into the national competition held every spring.

You can expect questions on the biology, physics, geology, and chemistry of the oceans , as well as current events.

Note: NOSB participants in high school can apply for the National Ocean Scholar Program , which awards bright students a scholarship to support their college education when starting as a freshman!

Dates: NOSB dates vary from state to state, usually held around February-March

Application Deadline: Varies from state to state, usually closes in mid-November

Location: Varies state-wise

Prizes: Cash prizes

9. The Genes in Space Challenge

An exciting, hands-on, and engaging challenge for young scientists, Genes in Space is a challenge designed for innovation in the field of space exploration . With the help of the GIS Toolkit (which includes cutting-edge tools such as Fluorescence Viewer, PCR thermal cycler, and BioBits cell-free system, you must conduct an experiment that solves an issue the field of space exploration faces.

You can explore questions such as "How will a deep space mission affect our DNA?" , "Can we detect new life forms?" , and even "Can living organisms help us colonize new worlds?"

The winners of the GIS will have their experiment conducted on board the International Space Station as part of the Genes in Space-3 mission!

Dates: April 17 - August 3, 2023. You can find the complete timeline here .

Application Deadline: April 17, 2023

Location: Genes in Space finals will be held at the ISS Research & Development Conference in Seattle, WA. The rest of the competition is virtual.

Prizes: Awards , P51 Fluorescence Biotech Kit

Eligibility: School students in Grades 7-12 can apply (only applicable for US citizens)

10. Regeneron Science Talent Search

If you've carried out independent scientific research and are looking for a platform that helps you develop your research, presentation, and analytical skills, consider applying for the Regeneron STS, one of the country's most prestigious science competitions .

STS receives nearly 1900+ applications each year and shortlists about 40 of them to the STS Final in Washington D.C. for a public presentation .

If you're passionate about a career in research in the field of biology, STS is an excellent opportunity for you - winners, along with cash prizes also receive support and sponsorship for future research.

Dates: June 1 - March 14, 2023

Application Deadline: November 9, 2022

Prizes: Cash prizes of up to $250,000, all finalists are awarded a trip to Washington D.C. and are taken on scientific field trips, mentorship sessions, and more.

Eligibility: All high school seniors based in the US can apply

11. The iGEM Competition

iGEM, a non-profit foundation that focuses on the advancement of synthetic biology hosts the annual iGEM Competition. A global synthetic biology event, iGEM Competition is a highly coveted opportunity for any young innovator passionate about using principles and methods from the subject of synthetic biology to solve real-world challenges.

You, along with your team (8-15 participants), are encouraged to design, build, test , and measure an original system using interchangeable biological parts and standard molecular biology techniques.

The best part about this competition is that it encourages multidisciplinary teams for a holistic, more robust technique design - your team can have participants from fields such as law, marine biology, mathematics, and social sciences!

Final shortlisted projects are invited to the annual iGEM Grand Jamboree.

Dates: Final Abstract due on September 30, 2023 (based on last year's timetable)

Application Deadline: March 31, 2023 (based on last year's timetable)

Location: Virtual, Jamboree venue to be announced

Prizes: Medals and Special Prizes

Eligibility: All high school students can apply

12. ASHG’s Annual DNA Day Essay Contest

The American Society for Human Genetics’ annual competition celebrates the discovery of the double helix of DNA, the Annual DNA Day Essay Contest judges writing submissions from high school students on topics related to genomics, and biomedicine. This year's essay topics -

Explain what “one humanity, many genomes” means to you. Make sure to include:

Two examples of what makes our genomes unique

How advances in understanding our genomes impact our lives, such as current and future research into medical treatments.

Not only is this a great exercise for scientific writing , a skill that will definitely come in handy at college, but also a great way to engage with more resources in the field of biology and grow your own knowledge as a student. Essay entries are judged on the basis of the strength of reasoning, as well as a deep understanding of the topic.

Dates: Early January to early March 2023

Application Deadline: Early March 2023

Prizes: Grants of up to $1000

Eligibility: All high school students (including those residing outside the USA)

Additionally, you could also check out general science competitions such as Google Science Fair , Envirothon , and the Stockholm Junior Water Prize .

Lumiere Research Scholar Program

If you are interested in doing university-level research in biology, then you could also consider applying to the Lumiere Research Scholar Program , a selective online high school program for students that I founded with researchers at Harvard and Oxford. Last year, we had over 2100 students apply for 500 spots in the program! You can find the application form here.

Stephen is one of the founders of Lumiere and a Harvard College graduate. He founded Lumiere as a PhD student at Harvard Business School. Lumiere is a selective research program where students work 1-1 with a research mentor to develop an independent research paper.

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Peterhouse Kelvin Biological Sciences Essay Competition

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We are pleased to announce the 2024 Peterhouse Kelvin Biological Sciences Essay Competition! This competition aims to give students the opportunity to explore scientific concepts and topics beyond the classroom, and to engage with scientific research. 

The Kelvin Biological Sciences Essay Competition is open to students in their  penultimate year of study  (Year 12 in England and Wales, S5 in Scotland, Year 13 in Northern Ireland, or equivalent) who are educated in the United Kingdom and Ireland.

Please see our website for the questions, submission guidelines, FAQs and a selection of last year's winning entries.

The deadline to submit is  Monday 29th April at 23:59 pm. Please submit your essay as a PDF using the form linked on our website.

The competition has a prize pool of £750, which will be shared between the winners. A prizegiving ceremony will be held in Cambridge in summer 2024.

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Log in to the ASHG Portal to submit or view your submission. 

Welcome to the 2024 DNA Day Essay Contest submission site!

Submission deadline is now extended to March 10, 2024 at 11:59 pm U.S. Eastern Time

Submission Instructions

• If you HAVE submitted an essay since 2019, please use these instructions
• If you HAVE NOT  submitted an essay after 2019, please use these instructions
• Review a blank submission form to prepare your submission

What You Need to Know Before You Submit

• Teachers should create an account and submit the essay for each student. This can be any teacher at the current school of the student.
• The contest is open to high school students (grades 9-12) in the U.S. and internationally
• Essays must be in English and no more than 750 words. Word count includes in-text citations, but not reference lists.
• Essays must include at least one reference. 

SUBMIT ESSAY HERE

For more information about the ASHG DNA Day Essay Contest, visit the contest homepage . 

Questions? Contact us at [email protected]

SRF Stewart Rhind Science Writing Prize

2022 srf stewart rhind science writing prize .

We are delighted to award the 2022 SRF Stewart Rhind Science Writing Prize to

  Ms Sophie Carroll

with her essay entitled

“From your know ledge of reproductive biology, critically evaluate in detail, one possible cause of mass of infertility that could explain the situation in the Handmaid’s Tale.”

Who was Stewart Rhind?

The SRF Essay Prize was renamed in honour of Dr Stewart Rhind who was tragically killed in a car accident in March 2013, along with his colleague Dr Julian Dawson. Click  here to read more about Dr Rhind and why Professor Mick Rae, a friend and colleague of Dr Rhind, feels that renaming the essay competition was a suitable way for the Society to remember Stewart and his contributions.

The Stewart Rhind Science writing prize is awarded for outstanding scientific writing skills on a topic relevant to reproduction and fertility. Undergraduates or graduate entry medical and veterinary students attending a university in the UK or Ireland, are invited to submit essays on an aspect of reproductive biology. Essays must be written in a style accessible to the educated non-specialist reader and are assessed on scientific content, style and topicality.

Competition Guidelines

• Submission for 2022 is closed.
• The essay must be about an aspect of  reproductive biology  and will be assessed on scientific content, style and topicality.
• The essay should be written in a style accessible to the educated non-specialist reader  (similar to a New Scientist or Scientific American article – see previous winning essays below for examples).  Course essays written in a standard scientific style are unlikely to be successful in the competition.
• From 2018, there are no longer two parallel competitions for undergraduate and postgraduate entries. All entries will be judged together for one prize.
• The winner will receive a prize of £250, one year’s free membership of the SRF and will be invited to attend the Fertility meeting to receive their prize. The winning entry will be published on the SRF website.
• The top three essays will be sent to Reproduction and Fertility which is one of the two official journals of the SRF. The editors of Reproduction and Fertility may select one of them for publication if it meets the editorial standard of the journal.

Eligibility

• Entrants must be attending a university in the UK or Ireland to be eligible to enter.
• Essays from graduate entry medical and veterinary students are welcome.
• Previous winners of the essay prize are not eligible to re-enter the competition.

Submission Guidelines

• The essay should be no more than 2,000 words in length (excluding references).
• Entries must include a cover page detailing the following information: – Author’s name – Author’s address, contact telephone number and email address – Degree title, year of study and institution
• Entries should be written in a style accessible to the educated non-specialist reader.
• Entrants must ensure that all figures comply with UK copyright regulations.
• Essays must be submitted via below application form (as a  MS Word document saved in the following format InitialLastNameSRPrize22) )
• SRF reserves the right to scan submissions electronically to detect plagiarism.
• SRF reserves the right to withhold the prize in the event that no entry is deemed to be of a sufficiently high standard.
• By submitting an essay, the author agrees to transfer copyright to the SRF and to allow the Society to disseminate the essay in electronic and print media.

Essay submission will open shortly.

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American Regional Biology Competition

The ARBC is a team based biology competition for you and your friends to test your knowledge of life science topics.

🎉 WINNERS: National results are out here ! Thank you to everyone who participated this year and we hope to see you back next year!

Mission Statement

What is arbc, competition.

The American Regional Biology Competition (ARBC) is a competition oriented towards furthering interest in the biological sciences amongst high school students. The ARBC provides resources and opportunities for students to take their interest in biology far beyond the limits of their classroom settings and pursue topics which they are interested in. Students will have the opportunity to compete as a team, and as such are encouraged to develop interpersonal cooperation skills and to collaborate effectively. The competition will contain both individual and team segments, both of which will require thorough prior knowledge and problem solving skills. Learn more here .

The American Regional Biology Competition (ARBC) is a competition oriented towards furthering interest in the biological sciences amongst high school students.

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The Oxford Scientist

The University of Oxford's independent science magazine

Schools Competition

Take part in The Oxford Scientist Schools Competition 2024!

The 2024 competition is now closed. Thank you to all the students and teachers who have sent submissions to the competition. We will update the winners and notify the winners of the competition in early September.

We are excited to announce the details of the 2024 edition of The Oxford Scientist Schools Competition. Please read each section below and the FAQ carefully as there are new rules and procedures for 2024.

Update for 2024: In response to an ever-evolving landscape with generative AI tools, such as Chat GPT, we have reworked our marking procedures to maintain fairness and rigour. Please note that as of 2024, the essay must be submitted by your UK school teacher. Link to join Teacher Mailing list to be notified upon future competitions. Please get in touch ahead of deadline if there are issues with the form.

Students may choose from ONE of the following themes:

“Evolution: anything and everything from Survival to Free Will”

“Data and humans in the digital age”

Guidelines for Submissions

• Eligibility: Open to students in Year 10 to Year 13 (or equivalent*) attending a UK school, college, or sixth form (School must be physically addressed in the UK) Officially UK Homeschooled students are also eligible in those year groups.
• Titles: Students should select one of the themes and then research and choose a specific area or topic to discuss in their essay.
• Essay Requirements: Essays must be the student’s original work, independently written without any form of plagiarism, including the use of pre-written texts or artificial intelligence-generated content. Articles should be relevant to the chosen theme and demonstrate originality, quality of analysis, and engagement with the topic.
• Word Limit: Maximum of 700 words. No bibliography is required.
• Submission Process: Please coordinate with your school teacher to submit your essay. Teachers can find the submission portal here .
• Deadline: Submissions must be received by Midnight, Wednesday 10th July, 2024.

Click here for Teacher Submission Portal .

All essays must be submitted by teachers on behalf of their students at school. If you have alternative schooling or mitigating circumstances please see the FAQ or email [email protected] . Please email us for the UK Homeschooled students form.

Additional Information: Both themes will be marked equally and students are encouraged to have the freedom to explore any relevant ideas ranging from present-day ideas and developments, computation and AI to historic ideas, and philosophical concepts. We are really interested to hear your original ideas , but please make sure that they are relevant to the theme! Articles will be judged by our panel of experts. Please take note that your submissions will be assessed on  relevance to the question, quality of scientific analysis, originality, writing style and grammar, interest to a general audience, and factual accuracy.  You should try to write at a level that would be simple enough for someone who has an interest in science but isn’t an expert on the topic you are writing about.

Awards & Opportunities

• Publication: Winning articles will be featured in the Oxford Scientist magazine and on our website, showcasing your work to a broad audience.
• Feedback Session with Competition Officials: Winners and runners-up will be invited to an exclusive feedback session with competition organizers. This is a unique chance to gain insights and improve your scientific communication skills.
• Supercurricular: This competition offers a fantastic opportunity to explore scientific topics beyond your school curriculum, and it’s a standout addition to university applications. We encourage entries from all students, regardless of previous experience in science writing.
• Opportunities for Finalists: Articles from competitors who reach the final round may also be considered for publication by our affiliated partners, giving even non-winners a platform to share their innovative ideas.
• Winner Trophy and Certificates.
• School Leaderboard Recognition : Schools that submit the highest number of entries will be featured on our website, recognizing them as top schools for engaging in supercurricular activities.

This competition is rigorously marked by the Oxford Scientist and by senior judges. Recently, in the 2023 Competition judged by a distinguished panel of senior judges, including Nobel Prize-winning physician scientist Sir Peter Ratcliffe, Environmental Researcher Dr Anna Murgatroyd, Senior Researcher in Translational Proteomics Dr Darragh O’Brien and Postdoctoral Researcher Dr Hannah Jones. The competition is run by the Oxford Scientist team and led by Franziska Guenther and Gavin Man.

Examples of winning essays from previous competitions can be found here . We strongly recommend that you read our  FAQs  before you start writing your article. If you have any further questions about the competition, please email [email protected] .

*(Year 14, 13, 12, 11 in Northern Ireland and S3, S4, S5, S6 in Scotland)

Click here for Teacher Submission Portal

Join our Teacher Mailing List to be notified for future competition releases!

Our Sponsors

This competition is proudly sponsored by UK Schooling is an education company based in Brighton and Hove, UK, which specialises in UK University preparation, subject tuition and Summer Exchange courses. UK Schooling runs many courses to help students to push beyond the curriculum and get ahead of the curve in their subject and classes for top school and university admissions in the UK. ukschooling.co.uk

We are also sponsored by Examable , a UK based educational firm that specialises in creating revision and learning resources for students applying to Top Independent Schools and for Leading UK Universities. Checked and approved by a team of Oxford University students, designers and GCSE & A level examiners. examable.co.uk

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Best Science Writing Writing Contests in 2024

Showing 17 contests that match your search.

Reader Views Literary Awards

Reader Views

Genres: Crime, Fantasy, Fiction, Horror, Humor, Memoir, Non-fiction, Novel, Novella, Poetry, Romance, Science Fiction, Science Writing, Short Story, Thriller, and Young Adult

The Reader Views Literary Awards program helps level the playing field for self-published authors, recognizing the most creative and exciting new books in the industry. Our awards program is recognized industry-wide as one of the top literary awards programs for independent authors.

Additional prizes:

Several marketing prizes (e.g. book review)

💰 Entry fee: $89

📅 Deadline: December 15, 2024

The Letter Review Prize for Unpublished Books

The Letter Review

Genres: Crime, Essay, Fantasy, Fiction, Flash Fiction, Horror, Humor, Memoir, Mystery, Non-fiction, Novel, Novella, Poetry, Romance, Science Fiction, Science Writing, Short Story, Thriller, and Young Adult

Free to enter. Seeking 0-5000 word (poetry: 15 pgs) excerpts of unpublished books (Fiction, Poetry, Nonfiction), including most self-published and indie-published works. 2-4 Winners (publication of extract is optional). We Shortlist 10-20 writers. Open to writers from anywhere in the world, with no theme or genre restrictions. Judged blind.

Optional Publication of Excerpt, Letter of Recommendation

📅 Deadline: May 01, 2024 (Expired)

Not Quite Write Prize for Flash Fiction

Not Quite Write

Genres: Crime, Fantasy, Fiction, Flash Fiction, Horror, Humor, Mystery, Romance, Science Fiction, Science Writing, Thriller, and Young Adult

The Not Quite Write Prize for Flash Fiction challenges writers to create an original piece of flash fiction based on two typical writing prompts plus one ""anti-prompt"". An anti-prompt is a challenge to break a specific “rule” of writing while telling a great story. Participants compete for AU$2,000 in cash prizes, including AU$1,000 for the winner, cash prizes for the entire shortlist and two bonus ‘wildcard’ prizes. Winners are read aloud on the Not Quite Write podcast, where the judges share in-depth analysis about the entries and offer free writing advice. The Not Quite Write Prize for Flash Fiction is hosted in Australia and open to all writers of any age and level of ability around the world.

Publication on the Not Quite Write website and podcast

💰 Entry fee: $16

📅 Deadline: July 21, 2024 (Expired)

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The Letter Review Prize for Nonfiction

Genres: Essay, Memoir, Non-fiction, Crime, Humor, and Science Writing

2-4 Winners are published. We Shortlist 10-20 writers. Seeking Nonfiction 0-5000 words. Judges’ feedback available. Open to writers from anywhere in the world, with no theme or genre restrictions. Judged blind. All entries considered for publication + submission to Pushcart.

Publication by The Letter Review

💰 Entry fee: $2

Science Fiction Writing Contest

FanStory.com Inc

Genres: Fiction, Science Writing, and Science Fiction

Share a Science Fiction themed story to enter this writing contest with a cash prizes. Let your imagination fly and enjoy sharing your writing.

Winning entries will be features on the FanStory.com welcome page.

💰 Entry fee: $9

📅 Deadline: April 12, 2023 (Expired)

100 Word Writing Contest

Tadpole Press

Genres: Essay, Fantasy, Fiction, Flash Fiction, Humor, Memoir, Mystery, Non-fiction, Science Fiction, Science Writing, Thriller, Young Adult, Children's, Poetry, Romance, Short Story, Suspense, and Travel

Can you write a story using 100 words or less? Pieces will be judged on creativity, uniqueness, and how the story captures a new angle, breaks through stereotypes, and expands our beliefs about what's possible or unexpectedly delights us. In addition, we are looking for writing that is clever or unique, inspires us, and crafts a compelling and complete story. The first-place prize has doubled to $2,000 USD.

2nd: writing coach package

💰 Entry fee: $15

📅 Deadline: November 30, 2024

Summer Nanofiction Battle

Writing Battle

Genres: Crime, Fantasy, Fiction, Flash Fiction, Horror, Humor, Mystery, Romance, Science Fiction, Science Writing, Short Story, Thriller, and Young Adult

Two days to write a 250 word short story. The peer-powered quarterly writing contest where every story receives oodles of feedback. Write one. Read ten. Win thousands.

Genre Winner (x4): $1,500

Genre Runner-up (x4): $375 | Feedback by industry professionals

💰 Entry fee: $20

📅 Deadline: August 02, 2024 (Expired)

Universe of Threats Natural Disaster Writing Contest

Genres: Fiction, Science Fiction, Science Writing, and Short Story

CAPTRS is building a catalog of threats, called the “Universe of Threats,” which will be used to prepare decision makers for future threats. We invite you to submit a 2,500 word or less story describing a threat scenario related to natural disasters, including floods, wildfires, hurricanes or another natural disaster of your choosing.

2nd: $2,500 | 3rd: $1,000 | Publication on CAPTRS website

📅 Deadline: January 31, 2024 (Expired)

Artificial Intelligence Competition

New Beginnings

Genres: Essay, Non-fiction, Science Fiction, Science Writing, and Short Story

There is no topic relating to technology that brings more discussion than artificial intelligence. Some people think it does wonders. Others see it as trouble. Let us know your opinion about AI in this competition. Include experiences you have had with AI. 300-word limit. Winners will be selected January 1, 2024. Open to anyone, anywhere.

Publication

💰 Entry fee: $5

📅 Deadline: December 15, 2023 (Expired)

Brink Literary Journal Award for Hybrid Writing

Genres: Essay, Fantasy, Fiction, Humor, Memoir, Non-fiction, Poetry, Science Writing, and Short Story

The Brink Literary Journal Award for Hybrid Writing will be administered to the winner of a literary contest designed to champion innovative hybrid and cross-genre work.

💰 Entry fee: $22

📅 Deadline: February 16, 2024 (Expired)

The Letter Review Prize for Books

Genres: Crime, Essay, Fantasy, Fiction, Horror, Humor, Memoir, Mystery, Non-fiction, Novella, Poetry, Romance, Science Fiction, Science Writing, Short Story, Thriller, and Young Adult

The Letter Review Prize for Books is open to writers from anywhere in the world. Seeking most unpublished (we accept some self/indie published) novels, novellas, story collections, nonfiction, poetry etc. 20 entries are longlisted.

$1000 USD shared by 3 winners

💰 Entry fee: $25

📅 Deadline: April 30, 2024 (Expired)

Future Scholar Foundation Short Story Competition

Future Scholar Foundation

Genres: Fantasy, Fiction, Flash Fiction, Humor, Mystery, Science Fiction, Science Writing, and Short Story

The Future Scholar Foundation's (FSF) monthly short story competitions are designed to enhance students' communication skills and foster impactful self-expression in their daily lives. The FSF's competitons have reached over 1,500 students in over 8 US states and were featured in The Seattle Times and Northwest Asian Weekly. Participate now for the chance to earn prizes up to $25 and publication on the Future Scholar Foundation's website!

$25 Amazon gift card

Publication on website

📅 Deadline: May 28, 2024 (Expired)

Elegant Literature's Monthly Award For New Writers

Elegant Literature

Genres: Crime, Fantasy, Fiction, Horror, Humor, Mystery, Romance, Science Fiction, Short Story, Thriller, Young Adult, Flash Fiction, and Science Writing

One of the largest awards open to unpublished writers and closed to professionals. We are the first magazine to pay pro rates and only accept submissions from new writers, putting over $150k into the hands of emerging talent around the globe so far. One new writer receives the grand prize. We also choose the best stories, pay the authors professional rates, and publish them in our magazine. June's theme is Secret Societies.

10x Paid publication, 25 x $20 USD | Free entry to Novelist Accelerator

💰 Entry fee: $10

📅 Deadline: July 01, 2024 (Expired)

Work-In-Progress (WIP) Contest

Unleash Press

Genres: Crime, Essay, Fantasy, Fiction, Horror, Humor, Memoir, Mystery, Non-fiction, Novel, Novella, Poetry, Science Fiction, Science Writing, and Young Adult

We aim to assist writers in the completion of an important literary project and vision. The Unleash WIP Award offers writers support in the amount of $500 to supplement costs to aid in the completion of a book-length work of fiction, nonfiction, or poetry. Writers will also receive editorial feedback, coaching meetings, and an excerpt/interview feature in Unleash Lit.

Coaching, interview, and editorial support

💰 Entry fee: $35

📅 Deadline: July 15, 2024 (Expired)

The Book of the Year Awards

The Independent Author Network

Genres: Fantasy, Fiction, Horror, Humor, Memoir, Mystery, Non-fiction, Novel, Novella, Poetry, Romance, Science Fiction, Science Writing, Thriller, Young Adult, Crime, and Short Story

The Independent Author Network presents the 10th Annual IAN Book of the Year Awards, an international contest open to all authors with 55 fiction and non-fiction categories. Winners are eligible to receive a share of cash prizes of $6,000 USD. Open to all English language print and eBooks available for sale, including small presses, mid-size independent publishers, university presses, and self-published authors.

$6,000.00 USD in total cash prizes

💰 Entry fee: $49

📅 Deadline: August 16, 2024

The Times/Chicken House Children's Fiction Competition

Chicken House Books

Genres: Fiction, Novel, Novella, Science Fiction, Science Writing, and Young Adult

We're looking for original ideas, a fresh voice, a diverse range of entries and stories that children will love! To enter, you must have written a full-length novel suitable for children/young adults aged between 7 and 18 years. We suggest a minimum of 30,000 words and ask that manuscripts do not exceed 80,000 words. The IET 150 Award will be awarded to a manuscript that celebrates Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths.

A worldwide publishing contract with Chicken House & royalty advance of £10,000

An offer of representation from a top literary agent

📅 Deadline: June 01, 2024 (Expired)

Storytrade Book Awards

Genres: Crime, Fantasy, Fiction, Horror, Humor, Memoir, Mystery, Non-fiction, Novel, Poetry, Romance, Science Fiction, Science Writing, Script Writing, Short Story, Thriller, and Young Adult

The Storytrade Book Awards recognizes excellence in small and independent publishing. Open to all indie authors and publishers including self-published authors, university presses, and small or independent presses, our annual awards program spotlights outstanding books in a number of fiction and nonfiction categories.

Medal, Book Stickers, Digital Seal

💰 Entry fee: $75

📅 Deadline: June 30, 2024 (Expired)

Discover the finest writing contests of 2024 for fiction and non-fiction authors — including short story competitions, essay writing competitions, poetry contests, and many more. Updated weekly, these contests are vetted by Reedsy to weed out the scammers and time-wasters. If you’re looking to stick to free writing contests, simply use our filters as you browse.

Why you should submit to writing contests

Submitting to poetry competitions and free writing contests in 2024 is absolutely worth your while as an aspiring author: just as your qualifications matter when you apply for a new job, a writing portfolio that boasts published works and award-winning pieces is a great way to give your writing career a boost. And not to mention the bonus of cash prizes!

That being said, we understand that taking part in writing contests can be tough for emerging writers. First, there’s the same affliction all writers face: lack of time or inspiration. Entering writing contests is a time commitment, and many people decide to forego this endeavor in order to work on their larger projects instead — like a full-length book. Second, for many writers, the chance of rejection is enough to steer them clear of writing contests. 

But we’re here to tell you that two of the great benefits of entering writing contests happen to be the same as those two reasons to avoid them.

When it comes to the time commitment: yes, you will need to expend time and effort in order to submit a quality piece of writing to competitions. That being said, having a hard deadline to meet is a great motivator for developing a solid writing routine.

Think of entering contests as a training session to become a writer who will need to meet deadlines in order to have a successful career. If there’s a contest you have your eye on, and the deadline is in one month, sit down and realistically plan how many words you’ll need to write per day in order to meet that due date — and don’t forget to also factor in the time you’ll need to edit your story!

For tips on setting up a realistic writing plan, check out this free, ten-day course : How to Build a Rock-Solid Writing Routine.

In regards to the fear of rejection, the truth is that any writer aspiring to become a published author needs to develop relatively thick skin. If one of your goals is to have a book traditionally published, you will absolutely need to learn how to deal with rejection, as traditional book deals are notoriously hard to score. If you’re an indie author, you will need to adopt the hardy determination required to slowly build up a readership.

The good news is that there’s a fairly simple trick for learning to deal with rejection: use it as a chance to explore how you might be able to improve your writing.

In an ideal world, each rejection from a publisher or contest would come with a detailed letter, offering construction feedback and pointing out specific tips for improvement. And while this is sometimes the case, it’s the exception and not the rule.

Still, you can use the writing contests you don’t win as a chance to provide yourself with this feedback. Take a look at the winning and shortlisted stories and highlight their strong suits: do they have fully realized characters, a knack for showing instead of telling, a well-developed but subtly conveyed theme, a particularly satisfying denouement?

The idea isn’t to replicate what makes those stories tick in your own writing. But most examples of excellent writing share a number of basic craft principles. Try and see if there are ways for you to translate those stories’ strong points into your own unique writing.

Finally, there are the more obvious benefits of entering writing contests: prize and publication. Not to mention the potential to build up your readership, connect with editors, and gain exposure.

Resources to help you win writing competitions in 2024

Every writing contest has its own set of submission rules. Whether those rules are dense or sparing, ensure that you follow them to a T. Disregarding the guidelines will not sway the judges’ opinion in your favor — and might disqualify you from the contest altogether. 

Aside from ensuring you follow the rules, here are a few resources that will help you perfect your submissions.

Free online courses

On Writing:

• "How to Craft a Killer Short Story" ( Click here )
• "The Non-Sexy Business of Writing Non-Fiction" ( Click here )
• "How to Write a Novel" ( Click here )
• "Understanding Point of View" ( Click here )
• "Developing Characters That Your Readers Will Love" ( Click here )
• "Writing Dialogue That Develops Plot and Character" ( Click here )
• "Stop Procrastinating! Build a Solid Writing Routine" ( Click here )

On Editing:

• "Story Editing for Authors" ( Click here )
• "How to Self-Edit Your Manuscript Like a Pro" ( Click here )
• "Novel Revision: Practical Tips for Rewrites" ( Click here )
• "How to Write a Novel: Steps From a Bestselling Writer" ( Click here )
• "How to Write a Short Story in 9 Simple Steps" ( Click here )
• "100 Literary Devices With Examples: The Ultimate List" ( Click here )
• "20 Writing Tips to Improve Your Craft" ( Click here )
• "How to Write Fabulous Dialogue [9 Tips + Examples]" ( Click here )
• "8 Character Development Exercises to Write 3D Characters" ( Click here )

Bonus resources

• 200+ Short Story Ideas ( Click here )
• 600+ Writing Prompts to Inspire You ( Click here )
• 100+ Creative Writing Exercises for Fiction Authors ( Click here )
• Story Title Generator ( Click here )
• Pen Name Generator ( Click here )
• Character Name Generator ( Click here )

After you submit to a writing competition in 2024

It’s exciting to send a piece of writing off to a contest. However, once the initial excitement wears off, you may be left waiting for a while. Some writing contests will contact all entrants after the judging period — whether or not they’ve won. Other writing competitions will only contact the winners. 

Here are a few things to keep in mind after you submit:

Many writing competitions don’t have time to respond to each entrant with feedback on their story. However, it never hurts to ask! Feel free to politely reach out requesting feedback — but wait until after the selection period is over.

If you’ve submitted the same work to more than one writing competition or literary magazine, remember to withdraw your submission if it ends up winning elsewhere.

After you send a submission, don’t follow it up with a rewritten or revised version. Instead, ensure that your first version is thoroughly proofread and edited. If not, wait until the next edition of the contest or submit the revised version to other writing contests.

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The 11 Best High School Science Competitions

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Love science and want to show off your skills? High school science competitions are a great way to do that! But which competitions will impress colleges the most? We've gathered information on 11 of the best science competitions for high school students. Look over the descriptions that seem most interesting to you, then keep reading to learn everything you need to do to make them stand out on your college applications.

11 Best Science Competitions for High School Students

Below are overviews of 11 of the best science competitions for high school students. For each one, we state which grades are eligible, whether it's an individual or group competition, and whether it's a research-based project or an exam-based competition. We then give a brief overview of what you can expect as a participant in the competition.

AAN Neuroscience Research Prize

• Grades Eligible: 9-12
• Individual or Group: Individual
• Research or Exam: Research

Students in this competition focus on researching and solving problems related to the nervous system/brain. If you decide to compete for this prize, you'll submit your own research on neuroscience, which will be judged on relevance to neuroscience, creativity, interpretation of data, and research reports.

Biology Olympiad

• Research or Exam: Exam

The USA Biology Olympiad (USABO) is one of the more memorization-heavy olympiads, and much of it, especially in early rounds, involves recalling the text of Campbell Biology in a timed fashion. As you progress further, there will be lab components and short-answer questions. For the hands-on portion, you need to be skilled at following memorized procedures. Nearly 10,000 high school students participate in the Biology Olympiad each year. Students take timed exams and those with the highest scores proceed to the next round. As long as your school is registered, you can sign up for the USABO open exam. If you score within the top 10%, you'll move on to the semifinals, and potentially the national and international competition.

Chemistry Olympiad

The U.S. National Chemistry Olympiad (USNCO) is similar to the Biology Olympiad in that they're both exams widely open to high school students, and, if you score high enough, you'll keep advancing to more challenging rounds. However, the Chemistry Olympiad does include more of a lab component than the Biology Olympiad. Any high school student can compete in a local Chemistry Olympiad competition, and students are then nominated for subsequent competitions based on their scores. Local competition exams are all multiple choice, while subsequent competitions include short/long answer questions and labs.

Conrad Challenge

• Grades Eligible: Ages 13-18
• Individual or Group: Group

The Conrad Challenge is a competition that challenges teenagers to think outside the box and create solutions to address local or global problems. Students work on teams of 2-5 (along with an adult coach) to create a product or service in one of the following categories: Aerospace & Aviation, Cyber-Technology & Security, Energy & Environment, Health & Nutrition, Transforming Education Through Technology, Smoke-Free World: Eliminating & Reducing Teen Vaping, and Smoke-Free World: Repurposed Farmlands & Tobacco Crops.

Like other high school science research competitions, there are multiple rounds competitors can advance to, and those that reach the Innovation Summit level are invited to present their project to a panel of expert judges at the Kennedy Space Center.

Davidson Fellows

• Grades Eligible: Anyone 18 or younger is eligible

The Davidson Fellows Scholarship awards $50,000, $25,000 and $10,000 scholarships to students 18 or younger who have completed a project in one of several fields, including STEM. It's both a prestigious and competitive scholarship to win, and the projects the winners produce are often at the level of college-graduate research projects. Research projects should "contribute a work that is recognized as an outstanding accomplishment by experts in the field and has the potential to benefit society."

Envirothon is a competition designed to promote environmental education in schools. Competitions are held during the school year, with the national competition held each summer. Students compete in teams of five to answer questions, do lab work, and give an oral presentation. There are five testing categories: aquatic ecology, forestry, soils/land use, wildlife, and a current environmental issue that changes yearly.

ExploraVision

• Grades Eligible: K-12

The Toshiba/NSTA ExploraVision program is a competition designed to build STEM skills in students. Participants research a current technology of their choice then envision what that technology will look like in 20 years, including development steps, pros and cons, and challenges. Students work in groups of 2-4, along with a teacher as a mentor.

MIT THINK Scholars Program

• Individual or Group: Mostly individual, although groups of two are allowed

Most research competitions require participants to have already completed the project, but the THINK program is different in that students only need to have completed background research for a project in the science, technology, or engineering fields before applying. Those whose projects are selected receive $1,000 funding and mentorship from MIT students. They also get a paid trip to MIT's campus to meet professors in their field of research, tour labs, attend MIT's xFair.

National Science Bowl

• Grades Eligible: 6-12

The National Science Bowl is one of the oldest and best-known science competitions, having been around since 1991. Students compete in groups of four (along with a coach and an alternate member) to verbally answer questions in all areas of math and science. Thousands of students compete each year, and you need to be able to answer questions quickly to do well. There are local, regional, and national competitions, and questions are designed to be at a college freshman level of knowledge.

Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair (Regeneron ISEF)

• Individual or Group: Either (groups can have up to three members)

Regeneron ISEF (formerly Intel ISEF) is one of the most prestigious science fairs for high school students. In fact, it's the premier science fair in the United States and one of the best-known high school science competitions. If you rank within the top 100, that's enough to help your application stand out even for Ivy League schools, and if you win the entire competition, you get a $75,000 prize!

You can't apply directly to the ISEF. Instead, you have to start out first in a regional science fair . If you do well in that, you can advance to the next ISEF rounds. Key factors for winning include being innovative and original. To show originality for the ISEF, you need to tackle a problem that's interesting to the scientific community. Since few high school students have a good overview of the academic science literature, it's important for any student to have a professional academic scientist or engineer as their mentor. This will ensure that you work on a problem the field considers important.

Science Olympiad

• Individual or Group: Either
• Research or Exam: Mix

We've written an in-depth guide on how to excel at Science Olympiad , but here's a brief overview. Schools that compete in Science Olympiad have a team made up of 15 members. Each member typically participates in three or four events. There are 23 events, some of which are "study" events where you learn about a specific topic and are tested on it, and others are "building" events that are hands-on and require you to design something (a plane, bridge, protein model, etc.). The events are varied and cover topics such as human biology, geology, and circuits. You'll be scored for each of your events, and those scores are combined into a team score. There are regional, state, and national competitions each year.

What to Look for in High School Science Research Competitions

The above list certainly doesn't include every science competition for high schoolers, and if you don't find one that quite fits what you're looking for, feel free to do some additional research of your own. However, use judgement when considering unknown competitions, especially if they are new or you can't find much information about them beyond a website or their social media. Also be wary of those that charge large fees to participate.

Quality science competitions will have a clear and detailed website that explains what the competition is, who is eligible, how you can participate, and who you can contact to learn more. It's not required for them to be backed by an academic or government entity (such as the Department of Energy) or a well-known corporation (such as Toshiba), but having that name recognition can help solidify their legitimacy.

Additionally, older competitions, and those that are national (rather than just local or regional) typically are better known and can stand out more on college applications. While some competitions offer significant prize money, just because a certain competition has smaller/no prizes doesn't mean they're not worth your time. Winners may receive other benefits, such as mentorship or invitations to conferences where they can network.

If you're ever unsure about a science competition, ask your science teacher or guidance counselor about it; they often know a lot about these things and can advise you if you should participate or focus your efforts elsewhere.

How to Include High School Science Competitions in College Applications

Participating in a high school science competition can be a strong asset to your college applications, especially if you plan on majoring in a STEM field. Colleges like to see passion and commitment to your future field of study, and participating in a science competition shows them you have both the skills and motivation to pursue science outside of the classroom. To make your participation as impressive as possible, use the following tips:

#1: Make Clear the Time You Put In

The more time you commit to something the stronger it looks to colleges because it shows dedication and a strong work ethic. So, instead of just listing the science competitions you participated in, be sure to include how long you prepared for the competition and what you were doing. Use numbers whenever possible, for example: "Studied chemistry and biochemistry topics 5-10 hours a week for four semesters" or "spent 25 hours researching biotech innovations, 20 hours contacting and meeting with biotech experts to gather advice and feedback, 60 hours designing prototype…" The more specific and detailed you are, the more colleges will understand how much work you've put into it.

#2: Connect It to Your Spike

Your " spike " is what we call your overarching passion/interest/career goal. For example, your spike might be being a great basketball player, creating a blog with thousands of followers, conducting engineering research, etc. The stronger your spike, the more impressive you are to colleges because you'll show talent, dedication, and passion that will likely continue in college.

If your spike at all relates to STEM, then you want to connect these science competitions to it however you can. Say you want to be a doctor, and your spike is an interest in human biology. If you competed on Science Olympiad, you'd want to be sure to mention any events you were on that related to human biology, mentoring you got from medical professionals, etc. Keep connecting it back to your spike to make your participation in high school science research competitions even stronger.

#3: Highlight Any Initiative You Took

Colleges love it when applicants show initiative because it indicates leadership qualities, aptitude, and motivation. Be sure to make clear any initiative you took with the project. This could include setting up a team, getting your school to participate in a competition it previously didn't have a program for, contacting mentors, designing research protocols, etc. If you came up with the idea on your own and followed through, make sure it shows up on your application!

#4: Don't Feel Like You Had to Win for It to Count

Many science competitions for high school students have thousands of competitors, and only a tiny fraction of those participants will end up winning a prize. However, that doesn't mean they're the only people with a strong extracurricular to add to their applications. Preparing for a competition takes time, skill, and a strong work ethic, all qualities that colleges appreciate. So if you work hard to prepare for a competition, be sure to still include it on your applications, even if you don't end up placing.

What's Next?

Do you love science? Check out our guide to learn which science classes you should take in high school .

Interested in math competitions, too? Check out our article on the 12 best math competitions for high school students .

Want to learn about other impressive extracurricular activities? Read our guide to see four examples of outstanding extracurriculars that are sure to impress colleges .

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Christine graduated from Michigan State University with degrees in Environmental Biology and Geography and received her Master's from Duke University. In high school she scored in the 99th percentile on the SAT and was named a National Merit Finalist. She has taught English and biology in several countries.

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Discourse, debate, and analysis

Cambridge re:think essay competition 2024.

This year, CCIR saw  over 4,200 submissions  from more than 50 countries. Of these 4,200 essays, our jury panel, consists of scholars across the Atlantic, selected approximately 350 Honourable Mention students, and 33 award winners. 

The mission of the Re:think essay competition has always been to encourage critical thinking and exploration of a wide range of thought-provoking and often controversial topics. The hope is to create a discourse capable of broadening our collective understanding and generating innovative solutions to contemporary challenges. This year’s submissions more than exceeded our expectations in terms of their depth and their critical engagement with the proposed topics. The decision process was, accordingly, difficult. After  four rigorous rounds of blind review  by scholars from Cambridge, Oxford, Stanford, MIT and several Ivy League universities, we have arrived at the following list of award recipients:

Competition Opens: 15th January, 2024

Essay Submission Deadline: 10th May, 2024 Result Announcement: 20th June, 2024 Award Ceremony and Dinner at the University of Cambridge: 30th July, 2024

We welcome talented high school students from diverse educational settings worldwide to contribute their unique perspectives to the competition.

Entry to the competition is free.

About the Competition

The spirit of the Re:think essay competition is to encourage critical thinking and exploration of a wide range of thought-provoking and often controversial topics. The competition covers a diverse array of subjects, from historical and present issues to speculative future scenarios. Participants are invited to engage deeply with these topics, critically analysing their various facets and implications. It promotes intellectual exploration and encourages participants to challenge established norms and beliefs, presenting opportunities to envision alternative futures, consider the consequences of new technologies, and reevaluate longstanding traditions. 

Ultimately, our aim is to create a platform for students and scholars to share their perspectives on pressing issues of the past and future, with the hope of broadening our collective understanding and generating innovative solutions to contemporary challenges. This year’s competition aims to underscore the importance of discourse, debate, and critical analysis in addressing complex societal issues in nine areas, including:

Religion and Politics

Political science and law, linguistics, environment, sociology and philosophy, business and investment, public health and sustainability, biotechonology.

Artificial Intelligence 

Neuroengineering

2024 essay prompts.

This year, the essay prompts are contributed by distinguished professors from Harvard, Brown, UC Berkeley, Cambridge, Oxford, and MIT.

Essay Guidelines and Judging Criteria

Review general guidelines, format guidelines, eligibility, judging criteria.

Awards and Award Ceremony

Award winners will be invited to attend the Award Ceremony and Dinner hosted at the King’s College, University of Cambridge. The Dinner is free of charge for select award recipients.

Registration and Submission

Register a participant account today and submit your essay before the deadline.

Advisory Committee and Judging Panel

The Cambridge Re:think Essay Competition is guided by an esteemed Advisory Committee comprising distinguished academics and experts from elite universities worldwide. These committee members, drawn from prestigious institutions, such as Harvard, Cambridge, Oxford, and MIT, bring diverse expertise in various disciplines.

They play a pivotal role in shaping the competition, contributing their insights to curate the themes and framework. Their collective knowledge and scholarly guidance ensure the competition’s relevance, academic rigour, and intellectual depth, setting the stage for aspiring minds to engage with thought-provoking topics and ideas.

We are honoured to invite the following distinguished professors to contribute to this year’s competition.

The judging panel of the competition comprises leading researchers and professors from Harvard, MIT, Stanford, Cambridge, and Oxford, engaging in a strictly double blind review process.

Keynote Speeches by 10 Nobel Laureates

We are beyond excited to announce that multiple Nobel laureates have confirmed to attend and speak at this year’s ceremony on 30th July, 2024 .

They will each be delivering a keynote speech to the attendees. Some of them distinguished speakers will speak virtually, while others will attend and present in person and attend the Reception at Cambridge.

The Official List of Re:Think 2024 Winners​

Gold Recipients

• Ishan Amirthalingam, Anglo Chinese School (Independent), Singapore, Singapore
• Arnav Aphale, King Edward VI Camp Hill School for Boys Birmingham, West Midlands, United Kingdom
• Anchen Che, Shanghai Pinghe School, Shanghai China
• Chloe Huang, Westminster School, London, United Kingdom
• Rose Kim, MPW Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
• Jingyuan Li, St. Mark’s School, Southborough, United States
• Michael Noh, Korea International School, Pangyo Campus, Seoul, Korea
• Aarav Rastogi, Oberoi International School JVLR Campus, Mumbai, India
• Yuseon Song, Hickory Christian Academy, Hickory, United States
• Aiqi Yan, Basis International School Guangzhou, Guangzhou, China

Silver Recipients

• John Liu, Deerfield Academy, Deerfield, United States
• Sophie Reason, The Cheltenham Ladies College, Birmingham, United Kingdom
• Peida Han, Nanjing Foreign Language School, Nanjing, China
• Thura Linn Htet, Kolej Tuanku Ja’afar School, Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia
• Steven Wang, Radley College, Headington, United Kingdom
• Rainier Liu, Knox Grammar School, Sydney, Australia
• Anupriya Nayak, Amity International School, Saket, New Delhi, India
• Ming Min Yang, The Beacon School, New York City, United States
• Anna Zhou, Shanghai YK Pao School, Shanghai, China
• Yuyang Cui, The Williston Northampton School, Easthampton,United States

Bronze Recipients

• Giulia Marinari, Churchdown School Academy, Gloucestershire, United Kingdom
• Christina Wang, International School of Beijing, Beijing, China
• Chuhao Guo, Shenzhen Middle School, Shenzhen, China
• Isla Clayton, King’s College School Wimbledon, London, United Kingdom
• Hanqiao Li, The Experimental High School Attached to Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
• He Hua Yip, Raffles Institution, Singapore, Singapore
• Wang Chon Chan, Macau Puiching Middle School, Macau, Macau, China
• Evan Hou, Rancho Cucamonga High School, Rancho Cucamonga, United States
• Carson Park, Seoul International School, Seongnam-si, Korea
• Sophie Eastham, King George V Sixth Form College, Liverpool, United Kingdom

The Logos Prize for Best Argument

• Ellisha Yao, German Swiss International School Hong Kong, Mong Kok, Hong Kong, China

The Pathos Prize for Best Writing

Isabelle Cox-Garleanu, Mary Institute and Saint Louis Country Day School, Frontenac, United States

The Ethos Prize for Best Research

Garrick Tan, Harrow School, Harrow on the Hill, United Kingdom

Gene therapy is a medical approach that treats or prevents disease by correcting the underlying genetic problem. Is gene therapy better than traditional medicines? What are the pros and cons of using gene therapy as a medicine? Is gene therapy justifiable?

Especially after Covid-19 mRNA vaccines, gene therapy is getting more and more interesting approach to cure. That’s why that could be interesting to think about. I believe that students will enjoy and learn a lot while they are investigating this topic.

The Hall at King’s College, Cambridge

The Hall was designed by William Wilkins in the 1820s and is considered one of the most magnificent halls of its era. The first High Table dinner in the Hall was held in February 1828, and ever since then, the splendid Hall has been where members of the college eat and where formal dinners have been held for centuries.

The Award Ceremony and Dinner will be held in the Hall in the evening of  30th July, 2024.

Stretching out down to the River Cam, the Back Lawn has one of the most iconic backdrop of King’s College Chapel. 

The early evening reception will be hosted on the Back Lawn with the iconic Chapel in the background (weather permitting). 

King’s College Chapel

With construction started in 1446 by Henry VI and took over a century to build, King’s College Chapel is one of the most iconic buildings in the world, and is a splendid example of late Gothic architecture. 

Attendees are also granted complimentary access to the King’s College Chapel before and during the event. 

Confirmed Nobel Laureates

Dr Thomas R. Cech

The nobel prize in chemistry 1989 , for the discovery of catalytic properties of rna.

Thomas Robert Cech is an American chemist who shared the 1989 Nobel Prize in Chemistry with Sidney Altman, for their discovery of the catalytic properties of RNA. Cech discovered that RNA could itself cut strands of RNA, suggesting that life might have started as RNA. He found that RNA can not only transmit instructions, but also that it can speed up the necessary reactions.

He also studied telomeres, and his lab discovered an enzyme, TERT (telomerase reverse transcriptase), which is part of the process of restoring telomeres after they are shortened during cell division.

As president of Howard Hughes Medical Institute, he promoted science education, and he teaches an undergraduate chemistry course at the University of Colorado

Sir Richard J. Roberts

The nobel prize in medicine 1993 .

F or the discovery of split genes

During 1969–1972, Sir Richard J. Roberts did postdoctoral research at Harvard University before moving to Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, where he was hired by James Dewey Watson, a co-discoverer of the structure of DNA and a fellow Nobel laureate. In this period he also visited the MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology for the first time, working alongside Fred Sanger. In 1977, he published his discovery of RNA splicing. In 1992, he moved to New England Biolabs. The following year, he shared a Nobel Prize with his former colleague at Cold Spring Harbor Phillip Allen Sharp.

His discovery of the alternative splicing of genes, in particular, has had a profound impact on the study and applications of molecular biology. The realisation that individual genes could exist as separate, disconnected segments within longer strands of DNA first arose in his 1977 study of adenovirus, one of the viruses responsible for causing the common cold. Robert’s research in this field resulted in a fundamental shift in our understanding of genetics, and has led to the discovery of split genes in higher organisms, including human beings.

Dr Aaron Ciechanover

The nobel prize in chemistry 2004 .

F or the discovery of ubiquitin-mediated protein degradation

Aaron Ciechanover is one of Israel’s first Nobel Laureates in science, earning his Nobel Prize in 2004 for his work in ubiquitination. He is honored for playing a central role in the history of Israel and in the history of the Technion – Israel Institute of Technology.

Dr Ciechanover is currently a Technion Distinguished Research Professor in the Ruth and Bruce Rappaport Faculty of Medicine and Research Institute at the Technion. He is a member of the Israel Academy of Sciences and Humanities, the Pontifical Academy of Sciences, the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, the Russian Academy of Sciences and is a foreign associate of the United States National Academy of Sciences. In 2008, he was a visiting Distinguished Chair Professor at NCKU, Taiwan. As part of Shenzhen’s 13th Five-Year Plan funding research in emerging technologies and opening “Nobel laureate research labs”, in 2018 he opened the Ciechanover Institute of Precision and Regenerative Medicine at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen campus.

Dr Robert Lefkowitz

The nobel prize in chemistry 2012 .

F or the discovery of G protein-coupled receptors

Robert Joseph Lefkowitz is an American physician (internist and cardiologist) and biochemist. He is best known for his discoveries that reveal the inner workings of an important family G protein-coupled receptors, for which he was awarded the 2012 Nobel Prize for Chemistry with Brian Kobilka. He is currently an Investigator with the Howard Hughes Medical Institute as well as a James B. Duke Professor of Medicine and Professor of Biochemistry and Chemistry at Duke University.

Dr Lefkowitz made a remarkable contribution in the mid-1980s when he and his colleagues cloned the gene first for the β-adrenergic receptor, and then rapidly thereafter, for a total of 8 adrenergic receptors (receptors for adrenaline and noradrenaline). This led to the seminal discovery that all GPCRs (which include the β-adrenergic receptor) have a very similar molecular structure. The structure is defined by an amino acid sequence which weaves its way back and forth across the plasma membrane seven times. Today we know that about 1,000 receptors in the human body belong to this same family. The importance of this is that all of these receptors use the same basic mechanisms so that pharmaceutical researchers now understand how to effectively target the largest receptor family in the human body. Today, as many as 30 to 50 percent of all prescription drugs are designed to “fit” like keys into the similarly structured locks of Dr Lefkowitz’ receptors—everything from anti-histamines to ulcer drugs to beta blockers that help relieve hypertension, angina and coronary disease.

Dr Lefkowitz is among the most highly cited researchers in the fields of biology, biochemistry, pharmacology, toxicology, and clinical medicine according to Thomson-ISI.

Dr Joachim Frank

The nobel prize in chemistry 2017 .

F or developing cryo-electron microscopy

Joachim Frank is a German-American biophysicist at Columbia University and a Nobel laureate. He is regarded as the founder of single-particle cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM), for which he shared the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 2017 with Jacques Dubochet and Richard Henderson. He also made significant contributions to structure and function of the ribosome from bacteria and eukaryotes.

In 1975, Dr Frank was offered a position of senior research scientist in the Division of Laboratories and Research (now Wadsworth Center), New York State Department of Health,where he started working on single-particle approaches in electron microscopy. In 1985 he was appointed associate and then (1986) full professor at the newly formed Department of Biomedical Sciences of the University at Albany, State University of New York. In 1987 and 1994, he went on sabbaticals in Europe, one to work with Richard Henderson, Laboratory of Molecular Biology Medical Research Council in Cambridge and the other as a Humboldt Research Award winner with Kenneth C. Holmes, Max Planck Institute for Medical Research in Heidelberg. In 1998, Dr Frank was appointed investigator of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI). Since 2003 he was also lecturer at Columbia University, and he joined Columbia University in 2008 as professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics and of biological sciences.

Dr Barry C. Barish

The nobel prize in physics 2017 .

For the decisive contributions to the detection of gravitational waves

Dr Barry Clark Barish is an American experimental physicist and Nobel Laureate. He is a Linde Professor of Physics, emeritus at California Institute of Technology and a leading expert on gravitational waves.

In 2017, Barish was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics along with Rainer Weiss and Kip Thorne “for decisive contributions to the LIGO detector and the observation of gravitational waves”. He said, “I didn’t know if I would succeed. I was afraid I would fail, but because I tried, I had a breakthrough.”

In 2018, he joined the faculty at University of California, Riverside, becoming the university’s second Nobel Prize winner on the faculty.

In the fall of 2023, he joined Stony Brook University as the inaugural President’s Distinguished Endowed Chair in Physics.

In 2023, Dr Barish was awarded the National Medal of Science by President Biden in a White House ceremony.

Dr Harvey J. Alter

The nobel prize in medicine 2020 .

For the discovery of Hepatitis C virus

Dr Harvey J. Alter is an American medical researcher, virologist, physician and Nobel Prize laureate, who is best known for his work that led to the discovery of the hepatitis C virus. Alter is the former chief of the infectious disease section and the associate director for research of the Department of Transfusion Medicine at the Warren Grant Magnuson Clinical Center in the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in Bethesda, Maryland. In the mid-1970s, Alter and his research team demonstrated that most post-transfusion hepatitis cases were not due to hepatitis A or hepatitis B viruses. Working independently, Alter and Edward Tabor, a scientist at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, proved through transmission studies in chimpanzees that a new form of hepatitis, initially called “non-A, non-B hepatitis” caused the infections, and that the causative agent was probably a virus. This work eventually led to the discovery of the hepatitis C virus in 1988, for which he shared the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 2020 along with Michael Houghton and Charles M. Rice.

Dr Alter has received recognition for the research leading to the discovery of the virus that causes hepatitis C. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal, the highest award conferred to civilians in United States government public health service, and the 2000 Albert Lasker Award for Clinical Medical Research.

Dr Ardem Patapoutian

The nobel prize in medicine 2021 .

For discovering how pressure is translated into nerve impulses

Dr Ardem Patapoutian is an Lebanese-American molecular biologist, neuroscientist, and Nobel Prize laureate of Armenian descent. He is known for his work in characterising the PIEZO1, PIEZO2, and TRPM8 receptors that detect pressure, menthol, and temperature. Dr Patapoutian is a neuroscience professor and Howard Hughes Medical Institute investigator at Scripps Research in La Jolla, California. In 2021, he won the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine jointly with David Julius.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why should I participate in the Re:think essay competition? 

The Re:think Essay competition is meant to serve as fertile ground for honing writing skills, fostering critical thinking, and refining communication abilities. Winning or participating in reputable contests can lead to recognition, awards, scholarships, or even publication opportunities, elevating your academic profile for college applications and future endeavours. Moreover, these competitions facilitate intellectual growth by encouraging exploration of diverse topics, while also providing networking opportunities and exposure to peers, educators, and professionals. Beyond accolades, they instil confidence, prepare for higher education demands, and often allow you to contribute meaningfully to societal conversations or causes, making an impact with your ideas.

Who is eligible to enter the Re:think essay competition?  

As long as you’re currently attending high school, regardless of your location or background, you’re eligible to participate. We welcome students from diverse educational settings worldwide to contribute their unique perspectives to the competition.

Is there any entry fee for the competition? 

There is no entry fee for the competition. Waiving the entry fee for our essay competition demonstrates CCIR’s dedication to equity. CCIR believes everyone should have an equal chance to participate and showcase their talents, regardless of financial circumstances. Removing this barrier ensures a diverse pool of participants and emphasises merit and creativity over economic capacity, fostering a fair and inclusive environment for all contributors.

Subscribe for Competition Updates

If you are interested to receive latest information and updates of this year’s competition, please sign up here.

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• July 26, 2024, 10 a.m. July 26, 2024, 5 p.m.
• Kochi Chapter of ICSI First Floor, Govardhan Building, Chittoor Road Kochi
• ✒️ ESSAY WRITING COMPETITION ✒️ Dear Students, ICSI- Kochi Chapter is organizing Essay Writing Competition on the occasion of Kargil Victory Day for CS Students on the theme "Role of Artificial Intelligence in Armed Forces" on Friday, July 26,2024 as a part of Student Month Celebration. All students of CS Foundation, CSEET, CS Executive and CS Professional Programme are cordially Invited to participate. Maximum word limit: 1500 words. Essay should be written in English only. The essay must be student’s own original work and not to be copied from any source. Neatly typed essay should be submitted in only soft copy via e- mail to [email protected] The font should be in Times New Roman, having 12 size with double spacing. The matter should be in A4 size standard paper. Last Date for receipt of Essay is Thursday, July 25, 2024 Thanks & Regards ICSI- Kochi Chapter

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Fourth circuit announces winners of 2024 essay contest.

Has the decision in Brown , viewed through the lens of 2024, achieved its purpose of ensuring equal opportunity in public education?

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit is pleased to announce the winners of its 2024 Essay Contest. The contest, which ran from February 20, 2024, to May 31, 2024, was open to current students in grades 9-12 in Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, North Carolina and South Carolina.

High School

First Place--$2,000 Award:  Kennedy Grams, a rising senior, Pikesville High School, Baltimore, Maryland.  Read the First Place Essay

Second Place--$1,500 Award: Elaine Deng, a rising senior, HCS Scholars Academy, Conway, South Carolina. Read the Second Place Essay

Third Place--$1,000 Award: Asher Ermentrout, a rising sophomore, Grimsley High School, Greensboro, North Carolina. Read the Third Place Essay

Middle School

First Place--$500 Award:  Makayla Macklin, a rising freshman, Union Day School, Weddington, North Carolina Read the First Place Essay

Second Place--$350 Award: Isabelle Yam, a rising 7th grader, The Langley School, McLean, Virginia. Read the Second Place Essay

Third Place--$200 Award: Aydin Soner, a rising 7th grader, homeschooled, Columbia, South Carolina.  Read the Third Place Essay

Students were invited to consider and share their thoughts on the question: " Has the decision in  Brown , viewed through the lens of 2024, achieved its purpose of ensuring equal opportunity in public education? " The court received excellent essays from students in all five states.

Awards will be presented at the Constitution Day program scheduled for  September 26, 2024, at 3:00 p.m. at the Lewis F. Powell, Jr. U.S. Courthouse in Richmond, Virginia.

The court extends its appreciation to its distinguished panels of judges for their work in reviewing the essays and selecting the top three submissions:

• Janice Baker, Legal Writing Instructor; Director, Konduros Leadership Development Program, University of South Carolina School of  Law, Columbia, South Carolina.
• Richard B. Katskee, Assistant Clinical Professor of Law, Director, Appellate Litigation Clinic, Duke University School of Law, Durham, North Carolina.
• Amy Cyphert , Lecturer in Law, Director, ASPIRE, West Virginia University College of Law, Morgantown, West Virginia.
• Karen M. Hinkley, Partner, Litigation and Appeals, Davis Hartman Wright LLP, New Bern, North Carolina.
• Steven J. Alagna , Lecturer in Law, Interim Director of the Appellate Clinic, Washington University School of Law, St. Louis, Missouri.
• Mary Claire Davis, Associate Professor, West Virginia University College of Law, Morgantown, West Virginia.
• Wesley Hedgepeth, Teacher, Richmond, Virginia.
• Ganelle Sutton, Teacher, Author, Elizabeth City, North Carolina.

For more information about the contest, visit Courts4Civics .

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Writing Curriculum

Teach Writing With The New York Times: Our 2024-25 Curriculum

Our nine writing units are based on real-world features like reviews, photo essays, narratives, podcasts and more.

By The Learning Network

Please note: Fully updated versions of each unit, as well as all supporting materials, will be published before each related contest opens for submissions.

What can the news, features, essays, interviews, photos, videos, podcasts and graphics in The New York Times teach your students about composing for a real audience? So much, we hope, that the units we detail below are just a beginning.

Our writing curriculum is a road map for teachers as well as an invitation to students. For teachers, it organizes our offerings into nine units, each of which focuses on a different genre or type of composing that your students can find not just in The Times but also in all kinds of real-world sources.

For students, these units offer confirmation that they have something valuable to say, choices about how to say it and a global audience eager to listen. Promoting student voices has always been a pillar of our site, and through the opportunities for publication woven into each unit, we want to encourage students to go beyond simply consuming media to becoming creators themselves.

Though some of the units spotlight mediums like photography or podcasting, writing is at the heart of each one. All our units begin and end with written reflection and depend on writing throughout — to plan and organize, to outline and script, to summarize and process. Increasingly, Times journalists are composing in multimedia, weaving photos, illustrations, video and audio into their written reports. We’re inviting students to do the same.

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