Are you a food science student? Submit a blog article of at least 1000 words explaining a food science concept to a general audience. Articles could include any field of food science e.g. food processing technology, food microbiology, food analysis, food chemistry, human nutrition, food engineering, or food safety.

Prize: $100 USD

A scholarship winner will be announced on the 1st day of each month

Send your articles to Dr. Courtney Simons at courtney.simons@gmail.com

Upcoming Award Deadlines

  1. June 30
  2. July 30
  3. August 30
  4. September 30

Article Guidelines

  1. Must contain scientific facts with strong support, yet written in a way that is entertaining, interesting and engaging to a general audience
  2. Must be original i.e. created by the student submitting the article and has not been previously submitted to any media platform elsewhere
  3. Images included in the article must be owned by the writer or have a creative commons license
  4. Must be a topic in food science e.g. food processing technology, food microbiology, food analysis, food chemistry, biology of food, human nutrition, food engineering, or food safety
  5. Minimum Word Count: 1000 words, excluding references
  6. No grammatical errors
  7. No direct quotes. The writer must express ideas in his/her own words
  8. Must have a total plagiarism score of below 10%
  9. Must include at least three credible references in APA style. Credible references include peer-reviewed journals, textbooks, university, or government website
  10. Must be submitted in Word format via email to courtney.simons@gmail.com on or before the deadline. Use subject line – “Writing Contest”
  11. Writers must agree to have the article (if selected) posted on Food Science Toolbox
  12. Winners must be able to receive Paypal payments from the United States

Writing Tips to Help You Stand Out

  1. Select a compelling headline
  2. Hook your reader with a captivating introduction that will make them want to stay
  3. Write for a specific niche within the food industry. Do not try to write for everyone
  4. Pick a clear angle. Be focused. You cannot cover it all
  5. Write as if you are having a conversation. Be natural  
  6. Aim for a readability score of between 90-100. That means your article is written in a way that an 11-year-old can understand (we use Grammarly to screen readability scores of submissions)
  7. Online audiences have less attention, so it helps when your article is scannable. Make your article scannable by:
  8. Using shorter sentences and paragraphs where possible
    • Giving different ideas their own paragraph  
    • Choosing simpler words instead of complex ones
    • Using subheadings where possible
    • Using lists and bullets when presenting a series of key points
    • Bolding keywords or sentences
    • Incorporating images (make sure to use your own images or ones that are copyright-free)