Essay competition

A member of staff passed on this opportunity from Newnham College, Cambridge:

Cambridge University’s Department of Social & Developmental Psychology is offering a new prize for a student essay in the field of social & developmental psychology. Schools and colleges are invited to submit essays by up to three different pupils in their first or second year of study for A-level, A/S level, Scottish Higher Level or an equivalent qualification.

A maximum of three entries per school are allowed. Each essay must be on an area of social & developmental psychology and should be accompanied by confirmation from a psychology teacher or the head teacher of the school or college that it is the work of the pupil, who should have completed not more than two years of full-time study post 16 years of age.

Examples of potential topics for the essay include antisocial behaviour; child-child relationships; the cultural relevance of psychological theories; families; fathers; fertility; mothers & daughters; personality and individual differences; same-sex parents; sex differences and their origins; etc.

Essays must not exceed 2,000 words in length (excluding the bibliography: figures, tables, etc). All debts to other scholars (including teachers, books, articles and web sites) should be acknowledged. Essays must be on a topic relating to the study of social & developmental psychology and must be written in the English language. We reserve the right to check submitted essays for plagiarism using online tools.

The First Prize in the Competition is £1,000: £600 for the pupil and £400 for his or her school or college. In the case of a tie for first place the prize will be divided. The writers of the winning essays with their subject teachers will be invited to an award ceremony held at Newnham College, Cambridge. Expenses within the UK will be paid for the winner and his or her teacher to attend.

The closing date for receipt of entries is 31st May 2009. You can download these details from the University website: http://www.ppsis.cam.ac.uk/psy/