Association of British Science Writers

“What are the most important challenges in the field of health, conflict and peace today? How should they be addressed?”

This prize is open to students from all backgrounds.
Word limit is 2500 words
The prize will be awarded to the essay that provides the most effective analysis of an issue or issues AND the most persuasive ideas regarding what to do about them.

All entries must be received by 20th September 2010

The Holdstock-Piachaud Prize
The Holdstock-Piachaud Prize was set up this year to encourage students to learn about themes covered by Medicine, Conflict and Survival. Douglas Holdstock and Jack Piachaud were editors of the journal and inspired many readers.
Medicine, Conflict and Survival is an international journal for all those interested in health aspects of violence and human rights.
It covers:

• The causes and consequences of war and group violence.
• The health and environmental effects of war and preparations for war, especially from nuclear, radiological, chemical and biological weapons of mass destruction.
• The influence of war and preparations for war on health and welfare services and the distribution of global resources .
• The abuse of human rights, its occurrence, causes and consequences.
• The ethical responsibility of health professionals in relation to war, social violence and human rights abuses.
• Non-violent methods of conflict resolution.
• Medical and humanitarian aid in conflict situations.
• Relationships between the environment, development and global security.
• The roles and responsibilities of governments and of international governance in reducing the risk of violent conflict

Medicine, Conflict and Survival was founded in 1985 and is published quarterly by Routledge. The journal continues to play an important role in debates around health, peace and violence.
The competition:
"What are the most important challenges in the field of health, conflict and peace today? How should they be addressed?"
Participants
All students are encouraged to enter the competition. Students completing their studies in 2010 are also eligible to enter.
First prize is £300, Second Prize is £200, Third Prize is £100
All winners will receive a year’s subscription to MCS.
Ideas and inspiration
What challenges does today's landscape of global security and insecurity present for health? What are the ethical and political responsibilities of doctors and other health professionals in relation to conflict and peace? At what levels should the causes and consequences of violence be addressed? What forms of action have been most effective in the past, and how can things be done differently today? Who should doctors and health professionals seek to influence regarding conflict and peace, and how?

Your essay should take the existing scholarly literature on health, conflict and peace into account and advance an analysis of the specific issue or issues you consider to be most important. You should also outline ideas for addressing them. What should be done? By whom? How to make it happen?

The prize will be awarded to the essay that provides the most effective analysis of an issue or issues AND the most persuasive ideas regarding what to do about them.
The word limit is 2500.  The essays will be judged by members of  the MCS editorial Board. The winning entry may be published in MCS. Entries must not have been previously published elsewhere.
The deadline for entries is 20th September 2010. E-mail your essay in Word format with the entry form below to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

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