Application Deadline: September 29, 2025
LOCATION: USA
This Competition is presented in partnership with the Paradox Science Institute. The advent of quantum mechanics overhauled the physical sciences, leading to huge leaps in physics, chemistry, and computer science. In recent years, biology has made great advances through interdisciplinary work with chemistry and physics. Yet the quantum revolution’s impact on biology remains largely unexplored. Among the most intriguing aspects is the possible role that quantum physics plays in biology. This topic has ignited vigorous and enduring debate.
ELIGIBILITY:
No purchase is necessary to enter or win. A purchase does not increase your chance of winning.
Relevant: The essay must be relevant to the topic, “How Quantum is Life?” (This is also one of the criteria for the Expert Judges’ review.)
Accessible: The essay must be readable and understandable to non-specialist audiences, not overly technical. (This is also the criteria for the Expert Judges’ review.)
Submitted via FQxI’s Submission Form—Competition Entrants must use a QSpace Forums account to submit an entry via the submission form.
Within the Text Limit: (25,000-character limit)
Minimal in References and Endnotes: An addendum is discouraged, but Competition Entrants can provide additional references and technical endnotes in the text boxes provided on the application. There is no guarantee Public Readers or Competition Evaluators, including the Expert Judges, will review these additional pages. All essays should be accessible so readers can understand the essay without these notes. Excessively technical essays could be disqualified.
Written or Translated into English: We welcome essays from across the globe, but the essay should be submitted in English. There are online translation tools, such as DeepL or Google Translate, that Competition Entrants can use. Please note: we cannot guarantee the accuracy of these online sites, so please have someone proofread your essay if possible. Please contact FQxI if you have questions.
Anonymous: Essays should make no implicit or explicit reference to the Essay Author. This includes referring to the Essay Author’s other outputs in the first person or heavily referencing the Competition Entrant’s own work, making it very clear that you are the author.
Not Harmful: Essays deemed offensive will be disqualified and will not be displayed on the site. Examples of offensive content include, but are not limited to, inappropriate language (curse words, epithets, flame wars, advertisements, etc.), pornography, and content that may incite violence or hate crimes or which denigrates specific groups of people.
Please review your essay thoroughly before submitting it to the Competition. We will not accept requests for edits once an essay is posted to the Competition Entries page.
BENEFIT:
Cash: There will be up to $53,000 in cash prizes awarded in this Competition. The Expert Judges can award multiple or no winners in each of the prize categories:
First Prize: US$10,000 each
Second Prize: US$5,000 each
Third Prize: US$2,000 each
Fourth Prize: US$1,000 each
Discretionary Prizes: as determined by the judges
