The SRF essay competition is open to any undergraduate studying in the UK or Ireland. The essay must be about an aspect of reproductive biology and will be assessed on scientific content, style and topicality. The maximum word length will be 2000 words. The deadline for applications will be the 28th February each year, and applicants will be informed of the decision by the end of March. Applications are only accepted via the online system.

The winner of the competition will receive a prize of £500 and be invited to attend the SRF annual conference, with the costs of their registration, accommodation and travel covered. The second prize will be £250 and the third prize £100. All three winning entries will be published on the SRF website. Further details are available on the website

Details

• Essays must be no more than 2000 words, including references
  
• Essay must be submitted in MSWord or PDF format to SRF@portland-services.com
  
• A maximum of 2 figures can be included
  
• Citations and references must be in the style used by Reproduction

Please include with your Essay submission

• The institution that you are studying at
• Your year and course of Study
• Name, address and email of Tutor
• Postal and email addresses for correspondence
• A short CV

Conditions of Entry

1. The Essay must not exceed 2000 words including references.
2. The entrant must be studying in the UK or Ireland on an Undergraduate Degree course. The society reserves the right to verify undergraduate credentials.
3. The work must be original and will be subject to a plagiarism analysis. If it contains material such as a previously published illustration or table, the material must be clearly identified and acknowledged within the text.
4. By submitting and essay, the author assigns copyright to the Society of Reproduction and Fertility to reproduce, broadcast or distribute the essay in printed, electronic or any other medium and, in turn to authorise others to do the same. The Society will also have the right to edit the essays as deemed appropriate for publishing. The rights concerning essays which are not amongst the prize winners will revert to their authors.
5. The deadline for applications will be the 28th February each year, and applicants will be informed of the decision by the end of March. Applications are only accepted via the online system.
6. The Society reserves the right to withhold the prize if the standard of the essays submitted is not considered to be of sufficient merit.
7. A decision will be made by the end of March and entrants will be informed accordingly.
8. The decision of the Society’s Council and Officers will be final and no correspondence will be entered into.
   

2010 Winners

1st Andrew Lawson - The Production of Artificial Gametes: Scientific, Clinical and Ethical Implications

2nd David Thomson - Disorders of Sex Development- The Treatment Revolution

3rd Maya Eirian James - Does it really all start with a Kiss? Activating the neuroendocrine reproductive axis

2009 Winners

1st Charlotte Bresslaw- Kids after Chemotherapy?

2nd Graham Bell- Beyond Jonny and the Snip: Investigating the male contraceptive pill

3rd Sophie Kay- Are Whole Ovarian Transplants The Future Of Reproductive Technology?

2008 Essay Prize Competition Winners

The inaugural SRF Undergraduate Essay Competition was a great success, with numerous entries covering a wide variety of topics. The competition was open to all undergraduates studying in the UK or Ireland, with a brief to produce an essay about an aspect of reproductive biology. These were then assessed by a panel on their scientific content, style and topicality.

The quality of the entries received was very high. Three entries stood out for their scientific content but also skill in engaging not just scientists in the field but also more general readers.

The winner of the competition was Hannah Dhonye (King’s College London). Hannah received a prize of £500, and attended the SRF annual conference, (with the costs of her registration, accommodation and travel covered) where she was presented with her prize at the conference dinner.

Undergraduate Essay Prize competition winner Hannah Dhonye receiving her prize from Dr John Parrington, Chairman of the SRF Education and Development Committee

The second prize of £250 went to Joanne Girdler (University of Southampton), and the third prize of £100 went to Emma Grieg (King’s College London).

The SRF congratulates the three winners, and thanks all of the entrants for their hard work. The 2009 competition will open later this year, so keep an eye on this page for more details.

The three winning entries can be read below (pdf format).

1st Prize:

‘The Greatest Race on Earth’

Hannah Dhonye (King’s College London)

2nd Prize:

‘The short- and long-term consequences of embryonic growth and development during the preimplantation period’

Joanne Girdler (University of Southampton)

3rd Prize:

'Mum... Is Great Grandma responsible for my low sperm count?'

Emma Grieg (Kings College London)

By submitting and essay, the author assigns copyright to the society of Reproduction and Fertility to reproduce, broadcast or distribute the essay in printed, electronic or any other medium and, in turn to authorise others to do the same. The Society will also have the right to edit the essays as deemed appropriate for publishing. The rights concerning essays which are not amongst the prize winners, will revert to their authors.