Would you like to have a bit of fun with the chance to win a prize? Then this is the competition for you!
Express a scientific idea/concept through poetry and fill out the form here to enter ‘The Poetry of Science’: a science-themed poetry writing competition open to all people in Tasmania for National Science Week.
Poems can be anything from a three-line poem (a haiku) to multiple verse rhyming poetry, to anything in-between!
The competition will open on July 1st and close July 31st and is open to people living in Tasmania, of all ages and abilities. A live showcase and prize-giving event will take place on the evening of Monday the 16 August at Grinners Dive Bar in Hobart (See Facebook event here: bit.ly/3zgQBdb.) If there is enough interest, there is also the possibility of producing a book containing the entries, with the authors’ permission of course!
Entries will be judged by a panel of experts (scientists and poets) with prizes (vouchers) for 1st and 2nd in the following age categories: 14 and under, 15-18, and adults (over 18).
Prizes (vouchers) will also be awarded for:
1. ‘People’s Choice’ (voting on social media).
2. ‘Best Poem About Doing Science’ (aimed at scientists and students studying science).
3. ‘Best Scicomm Poem’ (a poem which communicates a scientific idea or message in an elegant and easily accessible way), judged by the team at That’s What I Call Science (https://thatsscience.org/)
4. ‘Poets’ Pick’ (chosen by the poets/poetry experts on the judging panel).
To enter, write your entry, then fill and submit the form below before 11:59pm on the 31 July.
To keep up to date on the competition and live event and see some example poems in the lead up to the competition (written by me, other amateur poets and professional poets), follow me on Twitter: @KatePlantPhys and That’s What I Call Science on Twitter: @ThatsScienceTAS, Facebook: @ThatsScienceTAS and Instagram: @thatssciencetas.
Any questions can be directed to: [email protected]
Both science and poetry can be perceived as activities which fit rigid moulds or formats that can only be pursued by a narrow section of society. Through combining them, I hope that we can break down some of these barriers and show that both can be fun, light-hearted, diverse, and accessible to everyone!
Happy writing!
