Early career researchers in industry and academia in the West of Scotland were asked to write about how their research improves lives in 100 words or less. The winning finalists were announced at a ceremony on 17th June 2011 at Glasgow Science Centre.

View a slideshow of the event below...

Congratulations to:

• Academia Winner
  William Nicholls from University of Strathclyde
  Simulating the Fast Transport of Water Through Carbon Nanotubes

• Industry Winner
  Nils Hempler from M Squared Lasers
  Invisible lasers beams that protect our safety

Their entries were chosen as the winning entries by panels of P6 and P7 children in schools across Glasgow.

The competition was launched by Glasgow City of Science, in partnership with the Glasgow Science Festival for early career researchers working in industry and academia in the West of Scotland. Entrants were asked to showcase their research emphasising how it impacts on improving lives across Scotland and beyond. Two prizes of £500 one for PhD students/first post docs based in academia and the other for early career researchers from companies with a West of Scotland base were awarded. All candidates have no more than 5 years research experience.

Entrants were asked to submit a 100 word outline of their research, written in layman's language, explaining "how it will improve lives".