LAST CALL FOR BUDDING YOUNG SCIENCE WRITERS

Report with thanks to Emma Gilbert-Harris at the Telegraph Group Ltd.

CALLING all budding science writers of the future have until Friday May 14, 2004 to enter The Daily Telegraph BASF Science Writer Awards 2004. The Daily Telegraph is still searching for entrants are enthusiastic about communicating science to the public and eager to compete for this year's fantastic prizes. The lucky winners could see their article published in The Daily Telegraph; and share in cash and prizes worth over #7,000 including an all expenses paid trip to the USA!

Entrants must write an article of no more than 700 words, on any science-related subject. There are two age categories: 16-19 and 20-28 years old. The winning article will be selected by a panel of judges and then published in The Daily Telegraph weekly Science page and online in the Award Winner's section of the website, at www.science-writer.co.uk. The closing date for the competition is Friday May 14, 2004.

This year, entrants are competing for an all expenses paid, week-long trip to Washington DC, USA where they will attend the American Association for the Advancement of Science's 2005 meeting. The winners will also meet Britain's most distinguished scientists at the British Association's Festival of Science at the University of Exeter. A £500 prize is offered to the school that submits the most entries that reach the finalist stage and a £200 book voucher will be awarded to the teacher who submits the most short-listed pupils.

The Daily Telegraph BASF Science Writer Awards have been running successfully for seventeen years and were launched this year by Carol Vorderman. The competition boasts a prestigious panel of judges spanning the science, media and education industries: Dr Roger Highfield, Science Editor, The Daily Telegraph, Jeremy Webb, Editor, New Scientist Magazine, Philip Campbell, Editor, Nature Magazine, Adam Hart-Davies, TV Presenter, Dr Roland Jackson, British Association, Barry Stickings, BASF, plc, Professor Lewis Wolpert, University College London, Professor Heinz Wolff, Institute of Bio Engineering, Brunel University and Dr Mary Archer, Scientist.

Roger Highfield, Science Editor of The Daily Telegraph said:- "The Daily Telegraph is committed to developing the skills of young science writers. Each year the standard of entries improves for The Daily Telegraph BASF Science Writer Awards. Entrants should bear in mind that we are looking for writers who can successfully capture the imagination of the public and communicate with clarity and enthusiasm." 

Barry Stickings, BASFplc. says:- "As the world's leading chemical company, BASF is pleased to be sponsoring this award again. The Awards are an invaluable opportunity for young people to explore the challenge of expressing their views on science to a wider audience." 

Further information can be found on the competition website, www.science-writer.co.uk, or by calling the hotline on 020 7704 5315 or by emailing enquiries@science-writer.co.uk