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FIRST PRIZE (£1000 and a two-week media placement with New ÐÓ°ÉÔ­´´)

Katherine Robertson, University of Cambridge, UK: Fusion Cuisine: The many talents of the placenta

SECOND PRIZE (£750)

Clare Watkinson, University of Cambridge, UK: Stairway to Heaven: Physical activity and mortality

THIRD PRIZE (£500)

Justin Gregg, University of Dublin, Ireland: Dolphins Get the Point

RUNNERS-UP

Timothy Cockerill, University of Cambridge, UK: Research with Sweaty Palms: Discovering the true worth of insects

Molly Crockett, University of Cambridge, UK: The Chemistry of Choice: How serotonin affects decision-making

Karen Dawe, University of Bristol, UK: Minds, Brains and Pus

Helen Jopling, University of Leeds, UK: An Essential Balancing Act

Ciara Metcalfe, University of Cambridge, UK: Know Your Enemy: Gathering intelligence

Rebecca Nesbit, University of York, UK: Which Way to Africa? Ask a butterfly

Amanda Redig, Northwestern University, Chicago, US: To be be be or not to be: Hematopoiesis, stem cells and cancer

Rebecca Robey, University College London, UK: Grappling with a Herpesvirus

Matt Wenham, University of Cambridge, UK: Failure to fire

Louise Whiteley, University College London, UK: Lit Crit for ÐÓ°ÉÔ­´´s

The Science Essay Competition is held jointly by The Wellcome Trust and New ÐÓ°ÉÔ­´´. The winning essay will be published in the 11 October issue of New ÐÓ°ÉÔ­´´.