2017 Science Writing Contest Winners

We received more than 200 entries for our science writing contest, but we have three standout pieces that are all being published in print issues of Christianity Today, as well as a few finalists that will be published online.

The entrants wowed us: from beautiful writing on songbirds and fish eyeballs to haunting pieces on viruses, lyme disease, and aging. And we learned a few things, too. We learned about mirror neurons, lunar soil, and absolute zero. We especially enjoyed hearing about the scientific work that's being done out there by Christians. There are a lot of articulate people thinking about faith and science out there!

The first place winner is Jennifer McNutt for "The Clergy Behind the Science as We Know It" published in the December issue. Second place goes to Paul Arnold for "When the Gift of Intelligence Becomes the Burden of Alzheimer’s" in the January/February issue. Third place goes to Douglas Estes for "Our Blood Exposes Our Physical—and Spiritual—Health,” which is in the March print issue. Awards included $6,000 for first place, $3,000 for second place, and $2,000 for third place.

Finalists’ essays will be posted here as soon as they publish.