MARION Science + Storytelling Prize 2025

📖 About MARION Science + Storytelling Prize

The MARION Science + Storytelling Prize invites ACT-based writers of all ages to creatively explore the wonders of science through storytelling. Participants are encouraged to submit original, imaginative short written works in various forms, including essays, poetry, short stories, or hybrid writing, responding to the 2025 National Science Week theme:

Decoding the Universe - Exploring the unknown with nature's hidden language.

This theme encourages reflection on how we understand and interpret the world, from DNA and data to bird calls, star patterns, magnetic fields, fungi networks, and mathematical systems. Writers are invited to explore how nature "speaks" and how humans listen, translate, and create meaning from these hidden systems.

Whether you're fascinated by the cosmos, animal behaviors, climate rhythms, or the algorithms behind artificial intelligence, this is your opportunity to respond with creativity and curiosity.

🏆 Benefits

Open Category (18+):

• Winner: $400
• Runner-up: $200

65+ Category (for writers aged 65 and over):

• Winner: $400
• Runner-up: $200

Youth Category (under 18):

• Winner: $250
• Runner-up: $150

Additional commendations may be awarded at the judge's discretion.

✅ Eligibility Criteria

• Open to writers who are either:

  • Residents of the ACT, or
  • Can clearly and strongly demonstrate an ACT-based arts practice.

• Entrants must select the correct age category at the time of submission:

  • Open (18+)
  • 65+ (aged 65 and over)
  • Youth (under 18)

• Youth entries (under 18) must be submitted with parental/guardian permission. A checkbox to confirm this is included in the submission form.

📜 Submission Requirements

General Requirements:

• Entries must:

  • Be original works written within the 12 months prior to submission.
  • Respond meaningfully to the 2025 theme:

    Decoding the Universe – Exploring the unknown with nature’s hidden language.

  • Not be previously published, awarded a prize, or currently under consideration elsewhere.

• Works submitted to other competitions are allowed, provided they meet the above conditions.

Format Requirements:

• Submit entries as a .doc, .docx, or PDF file via the online form.
• Entries must be:
  • Typed in a readable font (e.g., Times New Roman or Arial, 11 or 12 pt).
  • Anonymous — no names or identifying information in the document (names will be captured via the form but de-identified for judging).
  • Written in English.

Length Limits:

• Poetry: Maximum 40 lines (excluding title).
• All other forms (essays, short stories, hybrid writing): Maximum 1,000 words.

⚖️ Judging Process

• Entries will be blind-judged. Judges will not be aware of entrants’ identities.
• Judges’ decisions are final, and no correspondence will be entered into.

🚫 Exclusions

• Members of the judging panel, MARION staff and Board, and their immediate family members are not eligible to enter.
• The organisers reserve the right to reject submissions that do not meet the eligibility criteria outlined in the terms and conditions.

🛑 Originality and AI Use

• All entries must be original works by a living individual.
• Entries must not infringe copyright or the rights of any third party.
• The use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) to generate or significantly assist with the writing is not permitted. Entries found to be generated or significantly assisted by AI will be disqualified.

📅 Key Dates

• Date Published: July 14, 2025
• Application Deadline: July 22, 2025

📝 Application Process

• Submit your entry via the official MARION Science + Storytelling Prize Portal.

📧 Contact Information

For any questions regarding this prize, please email operations@marion.ink. The organisers will endeavour to respond as soon as possible.

Good luck to all participants! 🌟

• Winner (Open 18+): $400

• Runner-up (Open 18+): $200

• Winner (65+): $400

• Runner-up (65+): $200

• Winner (Youth under 18): $250

• Runner-up (Youth under 18): $150

• Additional commendations may be awarded at the judge's discretion.