Congratulations to all the students who took part in STEM Next 2024 Essay Competition!
Watch the STEM Next Grand Final and meet some of the finalists!
About STEM Next
This essay competition was open to all 16-18-year-olds, with no subject prerequisites and not purely STEM-based. Students of various interests could take part! It was a fantastic opportunity for participants to learn transferable skills they could utilize in their future studies and careers, such as research, critical analysis, and communication.
There were three potential essay categories to choose from, each offering a diverse range of potential essay questions to suit every interest. It was a solo project that required independent research and writing. However, participants were encouraged to seek feedback from their peers or teachers before the final submission.
Category winners:
1) Energy In Action
Winners: 1st place winner: Samantha Van Rooyen, joint 2nd place winners: Ogochukwu Madu and James Buckley.
2) Medicine & Life Sciences
Winners: 1st place winner: Earl Xavier Fornillos, 2nd place winner: Sophia Nathwani, 3rd place winner: Sonia Jijia Zhang.
3) Chemistry & Biological Sciences
Winners: 1st place winner: Ishan Madhok, 2nd place winner: Maya Stoll, 3rd place winner: Seowon (Amy) Yoo.
Congratulations to all the finalists!
Taking part in the STEM Next competition was a brilliant opportunity for students to add additional achievements to their UCAS applications. In addition, participating students were eligible for CREST Awards. Additional prizes included: 1st place winners in each category were awarded £200 of Amazon vouchers, 2nd place winners in each category received £100 of Amazon vouchers, and 3rd place winners in each category were given £50 of Amazon vouchers.
Interested in supporting STEM Next?
Sponsorship provides an excellent opportunity to invest in the future of our local community, directly benefiting hundreds of young people throughout the area and beyond.
Please click here for information on how you can sponsor this project.
If you have any questions about STEM Next, please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Watch STEM Next student highlights from previous years:
Watch student testimonials from previous competitions to learn more about STEM Next:
A massive thank you to project sponsors and supporters.
