Year 12 Student Wins Biology Category in Prestigious Essay Competition

Charlotte, a Year 12 student, has won the Biology genre of the Minds Underground Essay Competition, an international contest that saw over 3,700 entries from students worldwide, including participants from Thailand, South Korea, the United Arab Emirates, the USA, Italy, and countless other countries.

The competition featured a diverse range of essay topics; from assessing whether humans are still evolving, to evaluating the ethical implications of AI, and even engineering a panic alarm earring. These essays showcased students’ engagement with the world around them, as well as their creative thinking and problem-solving abilities.

Charlotte’s winning essay addressed the question: “What is the most important biological process?” She chose to write about meiosis, the process that increases genetic variation within a population and thereby drives evolution.

 “I wrote about the process of meiosis as this increases variation within a population which allows for more evolution,” Charlotte explained. “One of my main arguments was that without variation there would be no evolution, and without evolution humans would not exist.”

Her choice of topic was inspired by her passion for biology, particularly evolution. “I thought meiosis was the most important biological process, and my favourite topic in biology is evolution, so this linked quite nicely,” she said.

The essay competition provided her with an opportunity to deepen her understanding of biology and support her university aims: “I entered because I thought it would be an interesting opportunity to expand my wider knowledge on biology as well as help with my UCAS application.”

Charlotte’s success in the competition has boosted her confidence and reinforced her academic aspirations. “I was surprised when I won, but very proud of my essay writing capability. My confidence has increased since winning, which means I will feel more confident going into university, where there will be more essay writing. It also means I can add it to my super-curriculars for my UCAS application, allowing me to better stand out against other candidates.”

Looking ahead, Charlotte hopes to study Natural Sciences with a focus on biology or biochemistry at university. While she is still contemplating her future career path, she is certain that it will involve continuing in the field of science.

Competitions like the Minds Underground Essay Competition offer students a remarkable platform to sharpen their writing skills, delve into their academic passions, and create impressive talking points for personal statements and university interviews. A huge congratulations to Charlotte for her outstanding contribution.

To read her full winning essay, Biological processes click here.