Girton College's annual Hammond Science Communication Prize competition is now open for submissions.
The competition aims to emphasise the importance of scientists being able to communicate their ideas to others - the talk must have scientific content and the contest is open to all undergraduate students at Girton College, University of Cambridge.
The central theme for the 2026 Hammond Science Communication Prize is 'Deception'.
Deception
Is deception always bad news? The act of deliberately causing someone to believe something that is not true is often used for personal gain, but is that always a terrible thing? Lies and tricks may damage trust and relationship, but camouflage and "playing dead" in animals and plants can bring a survival advantage. In humans, deception is a more complex cognitive strategy which is usually an evolutionary advantage, such as signalling to attract mates and competition for resources. Deception engineering is a cybersecurity strategy used to detect, misdirect, and analyse attackers which may protect real data and provide valuable intelligence on attacker behaviour, tactics, and intentions - so actually quite helpful?
From optical illusion to visibility cloaking, from chemical mimicry in biology, to hiding toxic substances or using fake ingredients, will you deceive the audience with your presentation?
Six to eight entries will be selected to progress to the competition presentation evening which will take place on Monday 23 February 2026 at 8pm in the Stanley Library, Girton College. We hope you will support this venture, and help us to put together a fun, entertaining and educational evening.
The judging panel look forward to reading your abstracts!
2024-25 Prize Winners: 'Extinction – A Global Challenge?'
Gina Fadel (2023, Natural Sciences)
The title of my presentation was ‘Lost in the Algorithm: The Silent Crisis of Childhood Cognitive Development'. It was about how the digital age is rewiring children's brains through alterations in their neural circuits in ways we’re only beginning to understand, and at a time crucial for brain development. Will fundamental neural connections, as we know them today, be remoulded to adapt to the demands of this digital age, and could this signal the extinction of generational traits? This is a global race we’re barely keeping pace with, necessitating questions: Are we losing the very qualities that make us human: innovation, creativity, memory, and introspection, and are they being outsourced to screens? Without intervention, we risk consigning future generations to a legacy of digital-induced neuropathology, where capacity for thought becomes a relic of a bygone era.
Participating in this prize has introduced me to the world of science communication, helping me think, the old-fashioned way!, about unique ways to share my ideas and engage an audience. It’s deepened my understanding of the importance of raising awareness, in this case about the impact of technology on the developing brain. I’m grateful for this opportunity as it sparked an interest for communicating science in a meaningful way to encourage thoughtful reflection but also to ignite a desire for change.
Aditi Chezhian (2023, Natural Sciences)
Tasha Leeson (2024, Psychological and Behavioural Sciences)
'For my submission to the Hammond Science Communication Prize, I explored phrenology - the 19th-century belief that the shape of a person’s skull could determine their personality, intelligence, and moral character. Once seen as a legitimate science, phrenology influenced everything from medicine to criminal justice before being completely discredited. But its legacy lingers - modern pseudoscience still attempts to categorise human nature in oversimplified ways, from personality tests to AI claiming to read emotions.
Winning Judges’ Second Prize was an incredible honour, and it really reinforced how important science communication is. Science isn’t just about discovery - it’s about making knowledge clear, engaging, and accessible. Bad ideas stick around when they’re not properly challenged, and good research only has an impact if people understand it. That’s why events like this matter so much. I’d like to thank Dr Phil Hammond, Dr Fiona Cooke, and the judges for such a fantastic evening - it was such a great opportunity to share my talk and hear so many inspiring presentations!'