Rules and regulations

Entrants must be aged 20 to 35 inclusive as at 30 November 2009.

The competition is open to researchers aged 20 – 35 at South African higher education institutions and science councils only. Employees of SAASTA and their families are not eligible to enter.

Written entries must be approximately 700 words long. Entries over 800 words in length will be disqualified. The article word count does not include any description of any graphic illustration, bibliography, nor cover page details for online entries.

Audio entries must be in the form of a script for a short radio drama. The script must not be longer than 1500 words. View an example of the format of such a script.

Entries will not be returned.

Entries must be submitted with a completed entry form using either the online form or a printed entry form (which is available on the download entry pack page). Photocopies of the entry form are acceptable.

Online entries should be in Microsoft Word format (filename.doc), and that the entry must be accompanied by an Online Entry Form. Please also ensure that your email address appears on the top of each page you are submitting.

Postal entries should be typed or legibly written in black ink or ballpoint, printed or written using only one side of each sheet of A4 sized paper, and be double-spaced. Your name should be clearly marked at the top right hand corner of every sheet of paper submitted.

If submitting an entry by post, two copies of both the article and the entry form should be submitted in an A4 envelope to: Young Science Communicators’ Competition 2009, SAASTA, P.O. Box 1758, Pretoria 0001.

Prizes:

The overall winner will win an all expenses paid trip (according to the National Research Foundation subsistence and travel policies) to Italy, including attendance of the Euroscience Open Forum in Torino, Italy, 2 – 7 July 2010.

Two runner-up prizes of R10 000 each will be awarded, one in each category (print and audio).

Reflecting on a year of celebrating Darwin – genetics and related research in South Africa
A special prize of R10 000 will be awarded in each of the two categories (article and script) for the best entry on genetics and related research in South Africa. These prizes will be sponsored by the Public Understanding of Biotechnology programme, an initiative of the Department of Science and Technology, managed by SAASTA, and by the Southern African Society for Human Genetics.

Prizes are not transferable.

The prizes as described are available on the dates of publication. Events may occur that render the competition itself or the awarding of prizes impossible due to reasons beyond the control of SAASTA and accordingly SAASTA may at its absolute discretion vary or amend the competition and the reader agrees that no liability shall attach to SAASTA as a result thereof.

The entrants agree that, as regards their entries, all copyright and all other rights in the nature of copyright throughout the world including for the avoidance of doubt all artistic, literary and dramatic rights in the Young Science Communicators’ Awards 2009 competition shall belong to SAASTA. In consideration of SAASTA publishing/ broadcasting an author's submission, the author agrees to assign to SAASTA with full title guarantee all copyright in the work.

SAASTA reserves the right to publish/ broadcast some or all of the entries in whole or in part or use them in any way it thinks fit, including syndication or other forms of commercial exploitation without the permission of the entrant or payment for such use. The best two entries may be published on the science pages of Saturday Star and on the SAASTA website. The best two entries in the audio category may have their entries developed into radio programmes that will be broadcast on the science show on SAfm.

The author warrants that the science article/ audio entry created will be an original work and not a copy or substantial copy of any work.

Proof of posting is not proof of delivery. Damaged, defaced, illegible or incomplete entries will be considered null and void. No responsibility can be accepted for any entries lost, delayed or damaged in the post.

The judges' decision is final and no correspondence on the nature of assessment or the results will be entered into. Winners will be announced in Saturday Star, on the SAfm science programme and on the competition website.

Entrants may be asked to partake in publicity.

It is a condition of entry that all rules are accepted as final and that the competitor agrees to abide by these rules.

The closing date for entries is 15 February 2010.