Crerar Science Writing Prize
The John Crerar Foundation Science Writing Prize for College Students
Deadline for Submissions: March 24, 2025, 11:59 PM CST
Introduction
The annual John Crerar Foundation Science Writing Prize for College Students honors the memory of John Crerar, an industrialist and philanthropist whose estate established the John Crerar Library.
This competitive award for excellence and clarity in science writing acknowledges the ability of a University of Chicago College student to produce a paper, on a scientific topic, which is thorough in its arguments but accessible to a broad readership.
- First Prize award is $1500
- Second Prize award is $1000
- Third Prize award is $500
Competition Guidelines and Eligibility
Essay Guidelines
The 2025 prize seeks essay submissions on a topic in science, medicine and/or technology. History of science and environmental or political policy papers are welcome as long as the theme is science, medicine and/or technology.
Your essay should include a description of how your topic is relevant to your studies, as well as its impact on society today and into the future. Your submission must be scientifically and technically accurate, make reference to the relevant literature, and be accessible to a readership with a general knowledge of science.
An important component of the paper is its bibliography, which must include citations from a variety of sources and may be presented in a bibliographic style of the applicant’s choosing.
We encourage and welcome submission from all perspectives.
Eligible Participants
The competition is open to students at the University of Chicago who are currently enrolled and pursuing an undergraduate degree. The competition is not restricted by year of study or major.
Submission Guidelines
- Entries will be accepted electronically via the entry submission form;
- Essays should be between 2,500-3,000 words. Essays may not exceed 3,000 words. The word count excludes the bibliography, footnotes, and cover page;
- Only original and unpublished work will be accepted. Submissions based on a student paper are welcome;
- Submissions must be written without the assistance of AI tools and must comply with the University’s academic integrity policy. If you are unclear if something is an AI tool, please ask a Librarian.
- One entry per person or collaboration will be accepted;
- Collaborative works are accepted, provided:
- All authors are acknowledged and the contribution of each author is clearly outlined;
- The submitter must indicate whether or not they are submitting the essay alone or alongside undergraduate co-author(s);
- In the case of an award for a collaborative paper, the prize will be distributed equally between the submitters.
- Re-submission is welcome. If the selection committee recommends your essay for re-submission in a subsequent prize cycle, your paper will be accepted for review providing it has been sufficiently revised and aligns with the current competition’s topic guidelines.
Format Guidelines
- Each entry must have a cover page with the title of the work, the author's name, UCID number and email address. This information should appear on the cover page only;
- Essays should include page numbers in the footer;
- Each submission must include a bibliography. Bibliographies must include citations from a variety of sources, and may be presented in a bibliographic style of the applicant’s choosing.
Selection Criteria & Awards
Selection Criteria
Prizes will be awarded to authors who are best able to write on subject matter with a clear and logical connection to the sciences. The selected essays must be understandable to those who study either a biomedical or physical science, however its arguments must be clear to the non-specialist.
The winning submissions will be selected for the quality of the research conducted, originality, accuracy, readability, writing style, and by the effective and literate statement of the results. The quality of the bibliography will also be taken into consideration.
Selection Committee
The panel of judges includes faculty and graduate students from the University of Chicago, a representative from the College Center for Research and Fellowships, and University of Chicago librarians.
The selection committee reserves the right not to award a prize if no entry is deserving of an award.
Awarding the Prizes
Prizes are distributed by the Library to winners as a one-time payment. Winners will be notified of their award via email in mid-to-late Spring Quarter.
Prize recipients are encouraged to deposit winning papers in Knowledge@UChicago.
Research & Bibliography Assistance
- Examples of writing that aligns with the spirit of this prize can be found in:
- Science (Perspective section)
- Nature (News and Views section)
- Scientific American
- Students who need assistance in conducting their research for the competition are encouraged to reach out to the subject librarian for their field. Please note that you are applying for the "Crerar Science Writing Prize" when filling out the form.
- If you are unsure who to contact, please visit Ask a Librarian and our staff will direct you to the best person.
- For citation help, please visit the Library’s citation management guide.