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RCSU Launches Science Challenge

Jan 23 2007 22:08

Ashley Brown

This evening saw the launch of the Royal College of Science Union's Science Challenge, an essay writing competition open to all Imperial students.

Jad Marrouche explains the science challenge

Over eighty people gathered in Blackett this evening for the launch of the Royal College of Science Union's essay writing competition, the Science Challenge.

The Challenge

“What scientific development or breakthrough do you think will prove to be the most significant within the next hundred years”

The essay question

The aim of the Science Challenge is to write an 800 word essay on the question revealed at the launch event.

RCSU President Jad Marrouche spoke about the competition for 20 minutes, covering this year's Centenary theme with a slide showing: "The previous hundred years of science have had a huge impact on society and civilisation".

The question to be answered is: "What scientific development or breakthrough do you think will prove to be the most significant within the next hundred years?".

Judging

Academics at Imperial will filter the entries down to a shortlist, which will be judged by the following people:

Dr Roger Highfield - Science Editor of the Daily Telegraph
Professor Lord Robert Winston - Emeritus Professor in Fertility Studies at Imperial
Dr Raj Persaud - Psychiatrist, Broadcaster and Journalist
Dr Simon Singh MBE - Science writer and Imperial Graduate

Entries must be in by the 23rd February, submitted online at the RCSU website and on paper. The winners will be announced at the Grand Final, to be held on the 9th March at an as-yet undisclosed location. The location will be announced in a couple of weeks, half-way through the competition. The BBC, Telegraph, Times, Independent and Guardian have all pledged to cover the event.

The Prizes

RCSU President Jad Marrouche, in front of a 2,500 pound coin

The Science Challenge offers a first prize of £2,500, a day shadowing Dr Roger Highfield, the science editor of The Telegraph and an Apple MacBook. Five runners up will receive £100 and a bottle of champagne, with their submissions considered for publication in the Telegraph. All entrants will be eligible to join the Science and Engineering Ambassador programme for free, rather than the normal price of £50. The scheme places "ambassadors" into schools to inspire them to enter science and engineering.

Prizes have been provided by Schlumberger, The Telegraph, Cockburn & Campbell and Apple.

A separate category is being run in conjunction with Imperial's outreach programme, with students at 2,000 schools from London and the Home Counties invited to submit their own essays.

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Discussion about “RCSU Launches Science Challenge”

The comments below are unmoderated submissions by Live! readers. The Editor accepts no liability for their content, nor for any offence caused by them. Any complaints should be directed to the Editor.

1. Richard Fautley - RCSU VPA

Jan 24 2007 00:06

Another fantastic RCS event, showing once again why the RCSU are the premier Faculty Union at Imperial - and worthy of an office!

Maybe CGCU should donate theirs to the superior Union. In fact, what exactly have CGCU done this year?

2. He Who Knows All

Jan 24 2007 00:14

Probably more than those in the Lego building, so why don't RCSU take over the Lego building as their office?

3. Associated Union of Gherkins Representative

Jan 24 2007 00:21

We object to the presence of Simon Singh on the judging panel as this may lead to further losses to gherkin-kind through electrocution.

We do, however, welcome the efforts being taken by RCSU to promote the Telegraph as this will hopefully lead to the closure of chip shops and a resulting fall in the numbers of gherkins consumed.

4. RCSU President - Jad Marrouche

Jan 24 2007 00:26

i should mention that the reason the prize giving is at an as yet undisclosed location, isn't because we don't know what we're doing, but rather it's so good it deserves a presentation of its own

5. He Who Knows All

Jan 24 2007 00:34

Jad, I assume the as yet undisclosed location will be large enough to accommodate however many people turn up? Do you have a rough idea of how many people are going to enter?

6. Neil

Jan 24 2007 00:35

I'll get to work on that then...

7. RCSU President - Jad Marrouche

Jan 24 2007 00:51

it's all under control, don't worry! All will become clear on the challenge website (http://rcsu.org.uk/challenge) within the next day or so...

as for a rough idea, really can't call it...

8. Martin Smith

Jan 24 2007 08:58

Great photos guys. Jad is a force to be reckoned with.

9. Oi! RCSU!

Jan 24 2007 18:18

Oh Mr. RCSU, what have CGCU done? Well let me so...

Where would have RCSU been without the guiding hand of Guilds for the sweet ass freshers' ball?

And when was the last time RCSU did anything for Lord Mayors' Show or New Years Day parade? Um, let me think... ...never!

Then there is the uber popular guilds 5 a side league, and a smattering of bar nights. Hmm, and if I am correct it is Guilds who is arranging the MAMMOTH interfaculty paintball event coming up.

Finally, wasn't it a guildsman who secured that sweet MacBook prize RCSU are giving away anyway?

10. RCSU President - Jad Marrouche

Jan 24 2007 19:58

joker

1. Check http://rcsu.org.uk for what we've done - I would list it, but it'd take a while

2. Kudos to Ashley Brown for the LMS and New Year's Day parade

3. Fok is a summer sabb

4. The apple rep on campus secured the sweet Macbook prize and I thank him for that - he just happens to be a guildsman - I don't see how you can take credit for that (seeing as apple pay him to promote apple...)

PS. Bar nights don't count

11. Big Bob Lovejoy

Jan 24 2007 20:57

Am I the only one amused that, amongst this discussion, there's a Science Challenge banner at the top of the page?

RCSU invade Live! Nothing is safe!

12. pedant

Jan 25 2007 01:23

"...when was the last time RCSU did anythign for... New Years (sic) Day parade?"

Would that have been this year when RCS Motor club represented The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea?

Yes, the current president of RCS Motor happens to be a Guildsman, but Jez is the mascot of the RCSU, I didn't see Bo' out there. Whilst Ashley did a hell of a lot for the New Year's Day Parade and deserves a lot of credit, there were RCS people out there as well but most of the credit really deserves to go to those human dynamos of medics responsible for collecting most of the money!

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