Every year we receive such fascinating essays, covering a breadth of topics, our judges have tough choice to make! This year, 16 schools submitted entries. 28 Finalists were rewarded with first, second and third place prizes in the Under 14, Under 16, Under 18 age groups for Science, Technology & Engineering, and Maths categories. Read the 2026 Finalists’ Magazine here.
SCIENCE – judged by Dr Joanna Tindall, Associate Editor PLOS ONE
U14
1st Physics of a Black Hole – Farah-Michelle Lemus, Townley Grammar School
2nd Bring it Outdoors! Slowing Myopia Progression – Abigail Lau, Alleyn’s School
3rd The Great Pacific Garbage Patch – Nasya Zhang, Townley Grammar School
U16
1st Is ageing the greatest untreated disease in medicine? Annabel Brown, Alleyn’s School
2nd The Words We Lose: How Screen Time Shapes Childhood Speech – Arwa Kinana, Croydon High School GDST
3rd Bang! Are we on the verge of mining resources from asteroids? Zara Annas, Sydenham High School GDST
U18
1st The Science Behind Butterflies in Your Stomach – Sanah Choudhry, Sheffield Girls’ GDST
2nd How could AI transform the field of forensic pathology? Cassia Ranson, Sydenham High School GDST
3rd (joint) Why Prions are a Problem – Jessica McManus, Sydenham High School GDST
Different mechanisms, same immunity: How mRNA and viral vector vaccines shaped the COVID-19 vaccine revolution – Noa Murphy-Morris, Sydenham High School GDST
TECH & ENGINEERING – judged by Justin Bean, Architect, Hawkins Brown & PhD Researcher
U14
1st Is the Dead Internet Theory a warning or an exaggeration? Aanya Saxena, Sheffield Girls’ GDST
2nd Wearable technology: What are the advantages and disadvantages in healthcare? Diya Sudhakaran, Croydon High School GDST
3rd Can we print a human heart? Hemin Duan, Sheffield Girls GDST
U16
1st Precision, Perfection, Accuracy: How AI Bridges the Gap Between Metal and Mind – Khadijah Shah, Northwood College GDST
2nd Living Wall – Marina Langhoff, Alleyn’s School
3rd How have sensors transformed Technology and Engineering? Debi Onganer, South Hampstead High School GDST
U18
1st What does it mean for AI to understand? Sofia Paparistodemou, South Hampstead High School GDST
2nd To what extent can the exoskeleton of the Iron Man suit be recreated? Evelyn Loke, Wimbledon High School GDST
3rd The Quest for a Safer American Football Helmet – Chiara Sadd, South Hampstead High School GDST
MATHEMATICS – judged by Cyprian Njamma, Head of Investment Strategy, BlackRock & Sydenham High governor
U14
1st Can maths really beat casinos? Laura Dippel, Wimbledon High School GDST
2nd Infinity & Its Effect On Maths & Philosophy – Florence Crooke, Wimbledon High School GDST
3rd Numbers Across Languages: ‘forty-two,’ ‘two and forty,’ or ‘four ten two’ – Victoria Meyer, Wimbledon High School GDST
U16
1st A Perfect Stride – The Mathematics Behind an Equine’s Jump – Eleanor Watson, Wimbledon High School GDST
2nd When Rational Decisions Fail: The Mathematical Paradox Behind Real-World Strategies – Zaina Dalal, South Hampstead High School GDST
U18
1st The Maths Behind Sudokus – Ava Mewawalla, South Hampstead High School GDST
2nd Mathematics and Modelling Morality: How the Gini Coefficient shapes our idea of fairness – Aarabe Shivakumaran, Wimbledon High School GDST
3rd The Trachtenberg System: Why don’t we teach this? Trinity Byrne, Sydenham High School GDST
We look forward to hosting our Finalists for 2027 when our building work is complete!
