Terms and Conditions

  1. The competition ’50 Words’ is part of an ERC-funded research study to understand what young people think about when they think about ‘research’. For further information about the study, including how we will analyse and manage research data from the competition, please see information about the study.
  2. The competition is organised by the University of Oxford. The study is being carried out by Dr Frankie Wilson, Head of Assessment, Bodleian Libraries, University of Oxford, [email protected] and has received ethics clearance through the University of Oxford’s approval process (reference number: R50481/RE001).
  3. Entry to the competition is open to all children who are in school years 7, 8, 9, 10 or 11 and who attend a school in Oxfordshire.
  4. Entries should be no more than 50 words and based on the prompt "Research is …" Entries can be in any form of writing – essay, story, fiction, news article, poem or any other.
  5. Entries must be submitted using the online form at http://www.ox.ac.uk/50words.
  6. They will be asked to provide their name, school and school year. They must enter the written work in the text box provided for submission. All writing must be submitted in English.
  7. The child’s parent or guardian will be required to approve the entry by way of a drop-down selector on the online form. The adult must provide their own name and contact email (not the child’s). This name and email address are recorded only as proof of consent for the child’s participation and in order to contact entrants to invite them to the Grand Prize Giving Ceremony. They will not be used for any other purpose, and will not be passed to any other party. The will be deleted when the winners have been selected and notified.
  8. The personal data of the entrant will only be used in order to inform the child's parent or guardian and the child's school of their invitation to the Grand Prize Giving Ceremony. Once winners have been chosen and contacted, the names of entrants will be deleted.
  9. The words used in the written submission, alongside school year and school, will be used in the analysis to understand what young people think about when they think about 'research'.
  10. Entrants can only enter individually. Only one entry per person is allowed and the writing must be wholly written by the entrant only.
  11. Closing time for entries is 30 November 2017. Entries received after this time will not be considered.
  12. Entries will not be returned so please remember to keep a copy. Unsuccessful entrants who do not attend the Grand Prize Giving Ceremony will not be contacted.
  13. Winners will be chosen at random, then checked that they fulfil the criteria:
          (a) fewer than 50 words;
          (b) on the topic 'research';
          (c) start with a sentence starting "Research is …".
  14. There is one winner per year group. The prize is a £50 voucher, which the parent/guardian will receive by email or post on behalf of their child.
  15. The organiser's decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into about the winner selection.
  16. Participants can withdraw their entry up to the day before the Grand Prize Giving Ceremony. Any questions or concerns should be emailed to [email protected].