Department of Materials, University of Oxford - Ironmongers' Company prize of £200 for the best 3rd year DPhil poster in the "Public Understanding" category.

Ironmongers' Company Prize for the best 3rd-year DPhil poster

The winner of the best poster in the ‘Public Understanding’ category will receive a one-off cash prize of about 233 EUR (£200). This category assesses how clearly you communicate your materials research to a lay audience. The prize is sponsored by the Worshipful Company of Ironmongers and is awarded annually by the Department of Materials Science at the University of Oxford.

Who can apply

• Degree level: You are a third-year PhD student.
• Department: You are studying at the Department of Materials Science at the University of Oxford.
• Field of study: Materials Science and Engineering.
• What is judged: You will present a research poster that explains your work to a wide audience.
• Nationality: Students of any nationality are eligible to take part, provided they are enrolled at the Department of Materials Science at the University of Oxford.

How to apply

No separate application is required. The prize is awarded during the department’s annual poster session for third-year DPhil students. A panel of judges selects the best poster in the ‘Public Engagement’ category.

How realistic are your chances?

As only third-year PhD students from a specific department at Oxford take part, the field of participants is very small: it consists of just one year group. If your poster genuinely appeals to a non-specialist audience, you have a real chance of success. The judging panel focuses primarily on how clearly the research is communicated to the general public, rather than solely on its academic depth.