Science's Vitality Fueled by Communicative Rivalry
In a celebration of scientific discovery and writing talent, the Max Perutz Science Writing Award 2019 has crowned its winner. Akira Wiberg, a student at the University of Oxford, took home the top prize for his article titled "Getting on your nerves".
Akira's win marks a significant achievement, following in the footsteps of the competition's namesake, Max Perutz. In 1962, Perutz shared the Nobel Prize for revealing the atomic structure of complex biological molecules. He also played a crucial role in setting up the Laboratory for Molecular Biology in Cambridge.
The competition, organised by the Medical Research Council (MRC), aims to engage new audiences with medical thinking throughout history. This year, the competition was open to MRC-funded doctoral students, and it attracted a multitude of entries.
Akira's victory was not the only notable achievement. Katrina Wesencraft from The EPSRC and MRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Optical Medical Imaging, Centre for Biophotonics, University of Strathclyde, suggested the possibility of a cell 'invisibility cloak' for diabetes treatment.
Magda Mareckova from the University of Oxford questioned a potential connection between studying endometrium cells and diagnosing endometriosis. Elisabeth Trinh from the University of Manchester brought up conflicting messages in the gut, while Lauren Terry from the University of Birmingham introduced senolytics, a potential anti-aging product.
Alice Waitt from the University of Nottingham presented a method for recognizing attention called RECOGNeyes, and Amy Southern from MRC Harwell and University of Oxford mentioned the search for the 'glue ear gene' in Down syndrome.
The competition also recognised other outstanding entries, with Erin Attrill from the University of Exeter earning the runner-up spot for her article titled "The enemy of my enemy is my friend". Imogen Birch from The Cardiff University Brain Research Imaging Centre offered advice about sleep and its impact on mood.
Peter Gawne from the School of Biomedical Engineering & Imaging Science, Kings College London proposed an optimistic perspective on the use of radioactivity and medical imaging in developing new treatments. Lastly, Nora Schmit from the School of Public Health, Imperial College London discussed reconstructing the past hepatitis B epidemic to prevent liver cancer in the future.
The Science Museum will unveil "The Medicine: the Wellcome Galleries" next month, offering visitors a chance to delve deeper into the world of medical thinking throughout history. With the calibre of entries in this year's Max Perutz Science Writing Award, it's clear that the future of scientific discovery and communication is in good hands.
Roger Highfield, a member of the MRC, commended the participants for their efforts and encouraged them to continue exploring the fascinating world of science. With the 2020 competition already on the horizon, the stage is set for another year of groundbreaking ideas and compelling writing.
