Wordsmiths and poets are being encouraged to bring forth their rhyme, reason, and humanity for a poetry competition on the theme of genetic research, entitled "Improving the human".
The competition which carries a first prize of £500, and runners-up prizes of £200 for second place and £100 for third place is being organised by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) Genomics Forum, based at the University of Edinburgh, in partnership with the Scottish Poetry Library.
They are hoping that the various controversial and ethical debates surrounding research on human genes will stimulate poetic answers for its competition by its deadline date of 7th October (National Poetry Day).
The Forum helps promote and communicate social research on contemporary life science and ensures that research from the ESRC Genomics Network (EGN) informs policy, scientific practice and public debate.
The EGN is a £25 million investment by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) dedicated to examining the development and use of the science and technologies of genomics. The activities of the EGN include the whole field of genomics, covering areas as diverse as DNA profiling and identity politics, plant and animal genetics, personal genomics, embryonic stem cell research, and synthetic biology.
The free-to-enter competition invites writers to consider the implications for society of genetic technologies - more specifically what part these discoveries and new technologies could play in 'improving the human'.
While perhaps the most obvious literary association with the young science of genetics is Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, Pippa Goldschmidt, Competition Coordinator and Writer in Residence at the Genomics Forum, likes to highlight another literary great as an inspiration.
"In 1917's Heredity, Thomas Hardy used genetics - or germ plasm theory as it was then - as inspiration for his writing, also recognising the power of poetry in exploring cutting edge scientific development. I hope that today's poets are similarly stimulated by recent genetic discoveries into considering broader questions about 'improving the human'."
Peggy Hughes, Competition Judge and Communications Officer at the Scottish Poetry Library added,
"We're delighted to be strengthening our links with the ESRC Genomics Forum by working together on this new poetry competition, and excited about the submissions such a fascinating topic could attract."
The rules
- Competition poems should be no more than 50 lines and should not have been published or accepted for publication elsewhere.
- The deadline for entries is 7 October 2010 (National Poetry Day).
- The judging panel comprises: Gwyneth Lewis (Welsh National Poet 2005-06), Peggy Hughes of the Scottish Poetry Library and Professor Steve Yearley, Director of the ESRC Genomics Forum.
- Further competition information including submission details is available at:
www.genomicsnetwork.ac.uk/forum