Lower Sixth Form pupil Gréta Horváthová has been awarded a runner-up prize in the British Science Association ‘Science Journalism’ competition.
This year’s competition began with a research day at the University of Manchester where Gréta Horváthová and Teodora Nănescu were joined by keen Fifth Form scientists Róisín Gambroudes, Aarifa Khanam and Ananya Prashanth, supported by chemistry teacher Mrs Emma Renwick. Along with students from other schools they were able to listen to talks from research scientists on topics ranging from using technology to find landmines and tackling our nuclear legacy to exploring the solar system and the use of data in identifying people at risk from cancer. Following the talks there was an opportunity to network with the scientists and ask them questions.
Back at school the pupils started to think about the article they would write – a 500 word piece explaining the work of their chosen scientist to a lay-audience. Gréta and Teodora both submitted articles to the competition.
Gréta’s article, on the topic of landmines, achieved a runners up prize (£25 of Amazon vouchers) and has also been published on the BSA Manchester branch blog. Feedback from the judges included, “This piece is beautifully written, showing a passion for the problems caused by landmines. Lovely demystification of the science and thank you for attributing the University. Balance between simplification and science is just about right. Well done Greta.”
Teodora’s essay on nuclear power was also commended and was one of the top seven entries.
Miss Alison Sefton, Head of Science at Oswestry School, praised the girls for taking the opportunities offered by the competition and for their thought provoking writing.