Many of you are spending your summer away from Berkeley — doing field work, mastering new languages, working in distant archives, volunteering, testing the waters of the working world with an internship, or just taking vacation. (Don’t overlook the benefits of vacations!)

I know that many of you have fascinating stories to share, so I invite you to tell us about what you are doing and learning while away from Berkeley. If your essay is selected for publication in GradNews — this e-newsletter that reaches more than 10,000 Berkeley graduate students monthly — you will receive a $100 Amazon gift card.  Up to ten authors may be selected!

Amazon gift cardYour submission should:

  • be written in an engaging style (not as an academic report)
  • illuminate your personal motivation for pursuing your research
  • be understandable to the general public
  • be 1,000 words or less
  • include photos

To enter the contest, complete this form. You will receive a link to a Box folder where you can upload your article by Thursday, August 9, 2018. 

Last year’s published essays included Student Shares Winning Tips on Mentoring; A Medieval Summer in Toronto; One Block, Two Worlds; Hello, Hei, Annyeong; and Tropical Biology and a Fragmented Landscape.