Competitions in physics

Abstract

Readers with an artistic or literary bent are urged to take up their pens and brushes to enter either or both of the contests outlined below. There are some exciting prizes to be won! Budding authors will be keen to take part in the Institute of Physics/National Physical Laboratory 1997 Science in Print competition. This is open to scientists, science students or science teachers who are not professional journalists or science writers, and there is a special category for those attending schools and colleges. Entrants are encouraged to: explain and interpret new developments at the forefront of physics research; explain and interpret quirky or unusual aspects of physics; explain and interpret the importance of physics in everyday life; discuss cultural and educational aspects of physics. The prizes include up to £2000 in cash, a 'behind the scenes look' at the National Physical Laboratory and some media training. Entries should be no more than 1200 words in length, and may be submitted on paper, on 3.5 inch disk or by email. Further competition information is available via the Internet at http://www.npl.co.uk/npl/sip97.html or http://www.iop.org/IOP/SIP/, and entries should be sent to Sue Osborne, National Physical Laboratory, Queens Road, Teddington, Middlesex TW11 0LW (email: sue.osborne@npl.co.uk ). The closing date is Friday 2 May 1997. As an alternative to the written word, the artistically minded can opt for designing a poster for the Institute of Physics/American Physical Society competition 'The Electron in our lives'. Among the prizes is a trip to the USA for seven winners, a computer with Internet link for a school, and a week of events in London and Washington for all the winners. Entrants should be at secondary school or college in the UK or Ireland, and there will be a winner in each year group from years 7 to 13. Winning designs will be sent to all schools and colleges in the country. Poster designs will not be judged solely on artistic merit, but on the imaginative and innovative ideas employed to convey the relevance and impact of the electron in everyday life. Entries should be A3 in size and may be in colour or black and white. The deadline is 30 April 1997. Copies of the official entry forms, competition guidelines and rules may be obtained from Katie Perry, Public Affairs Department, Institute of Physics, 76 Portland Place, London W1N 4AA (tel: 0171 470 4800, fax: 0171 470 4848, email: katie.perry@iop.org ).