Writing competition
What better way to celebrate the 25th Birthday of BioNews than encourage young and aspiring writers to put pen to paper (or fingers to keyboard!) and share their opinions about the most important fertility and genomic developments of the last 25 years.
PET is delighted to announce the inaugural Marcus Pembrey BioNews Writing Competition, named after one of the PET founding trustees and patrons.
The competition is now closed and the winners will be announced in September.
Why is this important?
The ability to express views in writing about complex subjects with accuracy and clarity and also persuasively is a wonderful gift, and one which is critical if PET is to achieve its aims. Sharing opinion on the science, ethics, and law behind the big developments in the fields of fertility and genomics is how we start debate, challenge opinion, and ultimately drive progress.
Why now?
The speed at which the scientific world is changing continues to gather pace, combine this with the vast amount of news and information people are bombarded with and it is easy to imagine a world in which only the few are given the gift of clarity and understanding. Accessible and authentic representation of the scientific world is essential to allow progress and responsible application of knowledge. PET wants to help ensure the future of writing comment articles and critical thinking is a healthy one.
Why enter?
The benefits go beyond just the prize and the exposure. You will also:
- Be part of the next generation of comment writers helping shape the future of fertility and genomic development
- Challenge yourself with developing and refining your thoughts on a subject related to assisted reproduction, genomics or stem cell and embryo research
- Help improve your writing skills and support your career development
- Use your skills in critical thinking to make a difference by helping facilitate debate about some issues which challenge society
The prizes
Three prizes will be awarded:
- First prize £750 - the winner will be given the opportunity to have 3 pieces of work published in BioNews with coaching from the experienced team of BioNews editors.
- Second prize £500
- Third prize £250
Details of the writing competition
The competition is open to individuals aged from 18-30 (entrants must be under 31 on the closing date).
We would like you to write a comment piece on the following topic.
Which scientific or legal development in fertility, genomics or embryo research in the last 25 years do you think will have the greatest impact in the next 25 years?
The word limit is 1000 words, excluding references and the title.
Make sure that your article is:
- Written in a way that will interest and will be understood by a non-specialist reader.
- Persuasive, so that readers get the sense of why the development you have chosen will have an ongoing impact.
- The article is no more than 1000 words, excluding the title (anything over the word count will be disregarded as part of your entry)
- The article is text only (do not include diagrams or tables)
How to enter the writing competition
You must submit your comment piece as a Word document to director@progress.org.uk by 23.59 on 30 June 2024 (BST).
You must make sure that
- You do not include your name or any other personal details within your document or in the file name
- You include links to references
- You do not provide academic citations or a bibliography
- The piece you submit has not already been published elsewhere
- Your piece is your own work
- You are subscribed to the BioNews email newsletter at https://www.progress.org.uk/subscribe/
- If you are based in the UK you must be available on 4 September 2024 to attend the evening prizegiving event in central London (the winners' UK travel expenses will be paid). If you are based outside the UK you must agree to being prerecorded accepting your award.
NOTE: The use of Generative AI tools like ChatGPT is not permitted and entries will not be considered if the use of AI is suspected or discovered.
Tips for writing your comment piece
Write your comment piece so that a non-scientific or non-legal reader can understand it. You should also ensure it is appropriate for publication. We suggest that you:
- Bring in the development you have chosen straight away and be clear about why you have chosen it.
- Use the history and background to engage the reader with your choice.
- Avoid writing a general review of the development.
- Include what is new and exciting about the development going forward and what it might mean. For example:
- Does it pose or indeed solve deep ethical questions?
- Will it prevent or transform the treatment of a disease or condition?
- Will it change society in years to come?
- Try to tell a story, rather than just writing an argument.
- Experiment with structure. You do not need to tell your story in a linear way.
- Feel free to quote people in the comment piece even if they hold opposing views.
- Remember that it's not enough to simply inform your readers, you need to engage them too.
- Read comment pieces published on BioNews
Judging process
All submitted comment pieces are marked blind through a judging process.
The shortlist of the top ten comment pieces is then reviewed by a judging panel, which includes leading science writer Dr Phillip Ball, and former BioNews editors Professor Kirsty Horsey and Dr Jess Buxton. Throughout the judging process, the comment pieces will be assessed using the following criteria:
- Creativity: the article should grab the interest of readers, from the first word to the very last.
- Knowledge/understanding of the issue(s) with those issues clearly identified and communicated.
- Choice of development: does it make sense to readers why they are being told about this development and why it shows future promise?
- Content: the comment piece needs to explain the development in a way that is easily understood by a non-scientific reader.
- Structure: it should be well structured and convincingly answer the question 'Why will this development have an impact in the next 25 years?'
The judges' decision will be final.
