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The winning essay in the Max Perutz science writing award 2020 was written by Sarah Taylor from the MRC Institute of Genetics and Molecular Medicine at the University of Edinburgh

In May, PhD students who are funded by the Medical Research Council (MRC) were invited to enter the Max Perutz science writing award 2020 and to tell the general public why your research matters". From the many entries received, the 10 that made the shortlist covered diverse topics, including motor neurone disease, self-harm, babies' experiences of pain, and bone loss resulting from space travel.

The essays were judged by the Observer's Ian Tucker, the Science Museum's Roger Highfield, Prof Fiona Watt from the MRC, Bristol University's Andy Ridgeway and the journalist and broadcaster Samira Ahmed.