RSC Bill Bryson Prize 2012

The RSC Bill Bryson Prize is an engaging and popular competition, designed to encourage and recognise clear science communication in schools and colleges.

The Bill Bryson Prize 2012 offers the chance to welcome the Olympics to the UK. In support of this major event the 2012 competition theme will be "Science and Sport". This offers the opportunity to celebrate the role that science and chemistry plays in supporting sport around the world. Boosting competitor's performance through improved nutrition, ensuring the integrity of competition by uncovering cheats and providing sportsmen and women the latest and most advanced equipment they need to excel, all rely on the uses and applications of chemistry and offer a rich vein of scientific ideas for entrants to explore. 

The RSC Bill Bryson Prize 2012 is open to students aged 5-18 and entries can be submitted in all formats, from posters to power points to puzzles! The competition will be judged in two categories, primary school and secondary school, with both individual and group entries accepted. The best entries from each category will receive a cash prize of £500 for their institution, and £100 for the winning students to share.

In 2012 we continue to celebrate the international nature of science by offering an award for the best International entry from a non-UK school. 

All UK winners will be invited to a prize-giving ceremony in London, where the awards will be made. If the best international entry comes from a country where the RSC has a presence a local ceremony in their home country may be organised. Note: all entries must be submitted in English.

The closing date for entries is 31 March 2012. 

Entry forms are available to download and submissions should be sent to the Education Department. An email address is also included on the entry form if you would prefer to enter by email.

2011 Competition

The RSC received hundreds of informative and creative entries to the 2011 competition from both primary, secondary and international school students. 

The winning entries were divided into three main categories: 

• Overall winner  - Laura Hedges and Anna Highfield, The Priory School, Shrewsbury
• Secondary Schools winners - Kathryn Hughes, Croydon High School, and Evelyn Henderson from King Edward VI High School for Girls, Birmingham                      
• Primary Schools winner - Lir Afiq, Chinthurst School, Tadworth, Surrey  
• International Schools winner -   Danran Chen and Andi Wang, High School affiliated to Peking University, Beijing, China              

The winners each received prizes of £500 for their schools plus £100 for themselves.