February 2007

The Daily Telegraph Science Writer Of The Year Awards 2007 - celebrating 20 years of inspiring young scientists

Now in its 20 th year, The Daily Telegraph Science Writer Competition is once again inspiring budding young writers to convey important scientific ideas to the nation, through informative and exciting writing, with the chance to win cash prizes, recognition in their field and a private presentation lunch with some of the competition judges.

This year The Daily Telegraph will be offering an additional honour. A prize draw for schools, colleges and universities with students entering will be held, with the chance to win a visit from Roger Highfield, The Daily Telegraph' s Science Editor and author of The Physics of Christmas' and After Dolly: The Uses and Misuses of Human Cloning . He will talk extensively to pupils on any of his six books or on the secrets of scientific communication.

The competition, which is once again being sponsored by Bayer, the global science-based company and backed by The Royal Society, the national academy of science, is divided into two categories: 15-19 and 20-28 years of age. Entrants are required to produce a concise and entertaining 700-word article explaining a scientific concept, which is accessible to all audiences. Previous winning subject matters have included everything from narcolepsy to development of anti-cancer drugs.

Bayer UK Chief Executive Martin Dawkins said, "It isn't every day that science students get to be taught by one our most eminent science communicators. Science is such an absorbing subject that, with Roger's skills, it should be a riveting experience and I expect that schools will jump at the chance and encourage their pupils to enter."

Entrants will have their work reviewed by illustrious scientific figureheads who will be judging the competition, including the renowned naturalist Sir David Attenborough, the popular novelist TV producer Fay Weldon, and the BBC science presenter Adam Hart-Davis. The winning articles will be published in The Daily Telegraph, and on telegraph.co.uk , giving young writers the chance to inform and entertain the readers of Britain's best-selling quality broadsheet.

"Now is your chance to make a difference and help bridge the gaping chasm between the public's perception of scientists and the world of science itself" explains Dr Roger Highfield , " Your enthusiasm for your subject and clarity of thought should shine through, entertain our vast readership and hopefully inspire the next generation of scientists ."

The first prize in each category consists of (i) the article published in The Daily Telegraph; (ii) work placement at either The Daily Telegraph , The Royal Society or Bayer; (iii) £1,000 cash; (iv) a year's subscription to Nature and New Scientist Magazine.

The second prize in each category consists of (i) the article published in The Daily Telegraph and online at telegraph.co.uk (ii) £500 cash; (iii) a year's subscription to Nature and New Scientist Magazines. Nine runners-up in each category will win £100. It is not only the young entrants that can win; the teacher who has the most pupils submitting entries from an educational establishment will receive a special teacher's prize of a £200 book token and the school, college or university with the most entries will win £500.

The closing date for entries is 1 st May 2007.  

For entry details and more information, including advice from leading scientific writers and previous winning articles, please visit: https://www.science-writer.co.uk  

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For more information please contact Alex Jackson-Proes or Zoe Thomas, Brown Lloyd James, on 020 7591 9610 or by email: [email protected] / [email protected]

Notes for Editors:

For more information on Bayer, please visit: http://www.bayer.co.uk

For current press information, circulation details, editorial directories and company information please see www.pressoffice.telegraph.co.uk

Telegraph Media Group Limited publishes The Daily Telegraph, The Sunday Telegraph , telegraph.co.uk and The Weekly Telegraph . This is a wholly owned subsidiary of Press Holdings Limited.

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