Aspiring science writers in third-level education are encouraged to participate in either of two competitions organised jointly by the Royal Irish Academy and The Irish Times. Both offer cash prizes and one includes an opportunity to be published in this newspaper.
The first is a competition for the most outstanding Irish PhD thesis of 2000 in the chemical sciences, as described in a 1,000-word essay. Open to graduates from the Republic and Northern Ireland, the winner will be nominated by the RIA's National Committee for Chemistry to go forward for the international prize for young chemists sponsored by the International Union for Pure and Applied Chemistry. He or she will also receive a John Coen bronze sculpture and a cheque for £800, both sponsored by AGB Scientific.
Entrants must have received their PhD degree or completed all PhD requirements including defence of their doctoral thesis during the calendar year 2000. The closing date for this competition is January 17th, 2001.
The second competition is the annual RIA/Irish Times biochemistry science writing competition. Undergraduate and graduate students in third-level institutions, North and South, can participate in the competition, sponsored by Yamanouchi (Ireland) Co Ltd.
Entrants to the competition are asked to write a newspaper article suitable for the non-scientific reader, explaining any new topic in biochemistry. It can cover medical, agricultural or industrial aspects but must be written in non-technical language.
The first prize is £800 with £300 for the runner-up. The winning author will also receive a bronze sculpture, and the article will be published in The Irish Times.
The closing date for entries to the biochemistry competition is Monday, March 26th, 2001. Further details and entry requirements are available by post from the National Committee for Biochemistry, Royal Irish Academy, Academy House, 19 Dawson Street, Dublin 2.
Information is also available from the RIA website, http:// www.ria.ie