Each year, CiS hosts an essay competition for students to enter, either individually, in pairs or as a group. Topics are provided, entries are submitted over the summer and judged in early autumn. The essay competition is designed to encourage promising young thinkers and writers to explore different science-faith topics.
The 1st, 2nd and 3rd place (where applicable) essays from our Summer competitions can be viewed below. The winning essay will be published in the PreCiS.
Student Essy Competition 2023 – now open
Your essay must be written under one of the following titles:
• Should the Church engage with Science?
• Artificial Intelligence – Peril or gift to the Christian?
• Science and Christian Apologetics – Help or hinderance?
• How should a Christian live in a time of Climate Emergency?
Your essay must be no more than 1000 words long and must be your original work. The entry must be submitted electronically by midnight on the 30th August 2023. Please read the FULL Guidelines and Rules for this competion – click here to download a copy.
Previous Winners
Disclaimer: Please note that the views expressed in the following essays are those of the student author and do not necessarily reflect the views of CiS or any of its officers or members.
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- 2022 Student Essay
- Sadly the entries were not of sufficient quality to be awarded a place this year
- 2021 Student Essay competition joint winners
- How can science-engaged theology help the Church in its mission? – Christopher West
- Pentecostalism and the Possibility of a Science Engaged Theology – Geoffrey Butler
- 2021 Student Essay competition runner up (3rd)
- Doubts and Depression: Does faith help or hinder coping with mental illness? – Daniel Nie
- 2020 Student Essay competition winner
- A Christian response to pandemics – Daniel Nie
- 2020 Student Essay competition runner up (2nd)
How can Science and Scripture inform ethics? – Christopher Caden - 2020 Student Essay competition runner up (3rd)
A Christian response to pandemics – Mimi Pearson-Gee
- 2022 Student Essay
- 2019 student essay competition winner
How can we wisely use the Bible and modern science to enhance our faith and studies? – Isaac Chidlow - 2019 student essay competition runner-up
Extinction Rebellion – how can Christians respond? – Christopher West - 2018 student essay competition winner
Which historical aspect of the relationship between science and religion do you think has been the most significant – Nathan Bossoh - 2018 student essay competition runner-up
Moved By Wonder – Lapo Lappin - 2017 CiS student essay competition winner
Truthful Imaginings: Scientific and Theological Enquiry – Jelmer Heeren - 2017 CiS student essay competition runner up (2nd)
In a world of ‘alternative facts’ what does it mean to search for ‘truth’, scientifically and theologically? – Abigail Motley - 2017 CiS student essay competition runner up (=3rd)
Can a scientist believe in miracles? – Daniel Nie - 2017 CiS student essay competition runner up (=3rd)
Can a Scientist Believe in Miracles, a Bayesian approach – Tamsin Nicholson - 2016 CiS student essay competition winner
Can a Robot Have a Soul? – Victoria Lorrimar - 2016 CiS student essay competition runner up (2nd)
Science, Faith and the Student – George Walker - 2016 CiS student essay competition runner up (=3rd)
Science, Faith and the Student – Chris Rousell - 2016 CiS student essay competition runner up (= 3rd)
Science, Faith and the Student – Andi Wang - 2015 CiS student essay competition winner
How should Christians respond to Climate Change? – Mark Gilbert - 2014 CiS student essay competition winner
How does God interact with the world – Paul Roberts - 2014 student essay competition runner-up
Science as a Christian Vocation – Anna Pearson - 2013 CiS Student essay competition winner
Science, Faith and Truth – Francesca Day - 2012 CiS student essay competition winner
Miracles in the Blind Spot – Sebastian Wood - 2012 CiS student essay competition runner-up
The Heavens Declare: Natural Theology and our Desire for the Transcendent – Tim Middleton - 2011 summer essay competition winner
Faith and Science – Mary Wood - 2011 summer essay competition runner-up
The Neurological Basis For Belief – Esther Ng