Win a week in the USA plus cash prizes

First prize in each age category is an all expenses paid week-long trip to the world’s biggest general science jamboree: the year 2002 Meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science in Boston. In addition, first prize-winners will receive £500 and an invitation to meet Britain's most distinguished scientists at the British Association's Festival of Science held at Glasgow University from September 3-7, 2001.

Second prize is £250 plus an invitation to the British Association's Festival of Science. There are nine runner-up prizes for each age group of £100. All entrants who reach the final round will receive a Highly Commended Certificate. The winners as well as some runners-up will have their entries published on the Wednesday science page of The Daily Telegraph.

All prize winners and runners up will each receive one year subscriptions to Nature and New Scienceist.

Special BASF prize of £500 and a year’s subscription to Nature and New Scientist for the best overall school entry.