The Launch

The Science Challenge was launched at 6:00pm on Tuesday 17th January 2012 in the Sir Alexander Fleming Building at Imperial College's South Kensington Campus. Overlooking Exhibition Road, and flanked by The Science Museum, The Natural History Museum, we think our campus made the perfect venue for such an auspicious event.

To listen to a recording of the launch, please visit ICRadio's website. ICRadio is the Digital Radio Station of Imperial College Union.

The Judges

Each year, The Science Challenge questions are set and judged by four high profile scientists, academics, editors & business leaders. Our judges kindly give up their time freely to read the finalist entries and come to our Launch & Final to give a speech on their experiences with science communication and award the prizes to the competitors. Thanks also go to our small team of Doctoral students who read through every entry on submission.

This year, our judges are:

Professor Lord Robert Winston - Imperial College Professor & BBC Presenter
Lord Winston is known for both his roles around College and his regular TV appearances. He has helped to promote science literacy and education for many years and recently founded the Reach Out Laboratory on the corner of the Skempton Building. His support to this competition is now a yearly honour, having championed it since its inception.

Mark Henderson - Science Editor of The Times
Science Editor of The Times, Mark Henderson is also author of a number of best-selling books, including '50 Genetics Ideas You Really Need to Know' and '100 Most Important Science Ideas'. Mark has been a Judge for The Science Challenge once before, and has kindly agreed to return.

Pallab Ghosh - Science Correspondent for The BBC
As well as being recognisable for his broadcasts for BBC News and BBC Radio, Pallab Ghosh is President of the World Federation of Science Journalists, and is a past chairman of the Association of British Science Writers. This is his first time as a Judge for the competition.

Peter Lacy - Managing Director, Sustainability Services - Europe, Middle East, Africa & Latin America at Accenture
As the senior executive at Accenture in charge of the company's sustainability arm in four continents, Peter Lacy is no stranger to the issues that modern science is trying to overcome. This is his first time as a Judge for the competition.