Science Writing Competition Results

We are pleased to announce the results of the 2020 Bio-Rad Science Writing Competition. There was a huge number of entries from all around the world and the judges were impressed by the high standard of submitted articles across a breadth of different topics. Your passion and dedication to your research were clearly conveyed, as well as honest accounts of some of the challenges that you face in the pursuit of a PhD.

Thank you to everyone who took part in the competition and to the following exceptional writers who are this year’s winners:

1^st Place

Alex Du Feu

Cancer Research UK Manchester Institute, which is part of the University of Manchester, UK

Inspiring Science - Why Public Engagement Is Key

Alex’s ‘burning passion for biology’ is evident in the way that he writes. The judges were impressed by Alex’s writing style and his ability to write honestly around an emotive subject, as well as eloquently highlighting why public engagement with science is vital. An outstanding article and a very worthy winner of our competition. Alex’s blog can be read now on Lab Crunches and he also receives a trophy, a copy of ’The Scientist’s Guide to Writing: How to Write More Easily and Effectively throughout Your Scientific Career’, and Science Writing Mentorship from our Lab Crunches Editor. Congratulations Alex!

2^nd Place

Amanda Koch

Colorado State University, Colorado, USA

Out of My Comfort Zone: How I Use Science to Influence Policy

Amanda has a naturally engaging writing style that really impressed the judges. Her thought-provoking article on why scientists shouldn’t avoid policy issues includes helpful tips for other scientists wishing to start conversations around science policy. A really enjoyable read that is full of practical advice.

Amanda wins a copy of ’The Scientist’s Guide to Writing: How to Write More Easily and Effectively throughout Your Scientific Career’ and a commemorative certificate.

3^rd Place

Varadha Balaji Venkadakrishnan

Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, USA

Slash the Tires Instead to Slow Down Prostate Cancer

Varadha Balaji impressed the judges with his clever race car analogy to explain the biology of prostate cancer. His passion for his research was evident throughout his piece and it scored highly for originality and writing style.

Varadha Balaji’s blog will be published on Lab Crunches in August. He also receives a commemorative certificate.

The following writers were highly commended by the judges for their articles:
 

	Marta González Prieto Complutense University of Madrid, Spain My Ph.D. Relationship
	Jemma Milburn University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Austria My Contribution:  As an Immunology PhD Student during the COVID-19 Pandemic
	Emma Green Keele University, UK A PhD but Not as I Thought it Would Be
	Adithya Rajagopalan Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, USA Normalizing Extremes
	Shermaine Thein National University of Singapore, Singapore An Age Old Question