Young Science Writer Awards 2025

Who can apply?

The Association of British Science Writers invites students from non-selective state funded schools, or those who are home schooled with disabilities and who cannot attend school in person, aged 14-16 years, to submit an 800-word essay on any subject in science, technology, engineering and/or mathematics. 

This competition is open to students nationally in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.

This competition is designed to get young people writing and thinking about the big questions in science, technology, engineering and maths, with a focus on how science impacts on policymaking and society. 

Criteria for Entry:

1. You must be aged 14-16 years old;

2. You MUST be attending a state funded AND non-selective school in the UK.

How to apply?

Write an essay of up to 800 words (this does not include references) and submit it via this website by 23:59 pm on Friday 7th March 2025.

Alongside your essay, we will ask some additional questions which will help us review your submission. You can access this form by clicking on the 'Submit your essay' button which will go live when the competition opens on Friday 17th January 2025.

Please note that the winner and runners-up will need permission from their parent/guardian before any details about them can be made publicly available.

We also ask that you make your school aware you have entered the competition. Should you be selected as a winner or runner-up, we will invite you and your class to our awards ceremony and we will need a point of contact within your school to arrange this with.

Submissions must be in English.

What are we looking for? 

Great storytelling. We would love the essay to be an enlightening, informative and engaging read. We would also like it to include analysis, context, and perspective, helping the reader explore and understand the social, ethical, and political implications of scientific advances and the scientific process. This year, we will also have available a few informative videos to help, which will feature experienced science journalists sharing some of their tips on what makes a compelling and impactful story. More information will be made available once the competition opens.

Award Categories

There five award categories to which you can align your essay to:

• Climate & Environment
• AI & Technology
• Engineering the Future
• Healthcare & Life Science
• Maths & Physical Sciences 

The topic of your essay may overlap several areas of STEM. Please select whichever category aligns with your essay the most.

What should you write about?

We are keen to hear about whatever STEM topics you are passionate about; it can be anything from the role of AI in societies of the future to the importance of meeting our net zero goals in the next decade.

Here are some ideas on types of questions that could guide your essays:

• How far away are settlements on Mars from becoming reality?
• Should those who make science policy be scientists?
• How is fast fashion contributing to the climate emergency?
• What are the materials of the future and how could they be used to house growing populations?

And finally here are some questions for you to consider when thinking about the content of the essay:

• How does the subject you choose relate to society?
• Who are the winners and losers of scientific advance in this area?
• What role should the public play in policymaking in this area?

Please be aware, we check all essays using AI detection software. If it is discovered that your submission has been written with the help of an AI-based tool, it will be disqualified from the competition.