About the prize
This is the 17th year of the Holdstock-Piachaud Student Essay Prize, set up to encourage students to explore the themes covered by the journal Medicine, Conflict and Survival, and in memory of Douglas Holdstock and Jack Piachaud who were for many years inspirational editors of the Journal.
What we are looking for are essays with insights and original perspectives on issues relevant to Medicine, Conflict and Survival, from students who will be shaping the future. We encourage you to base your argument on relevant literature but to develop it drawing on your own experience and reflections. Originality is always one of the judges’ chief criteria.
The Holdstock-Piachaud Prize is made possible through the generosity of the Lionel Penrose Trust.
Medicine, Conflict and Survival is an international journal for all those interested in the health aspects of violence and human rights. Founded in 1985 it is a designated journal of IPPNW and Medact. Published quarterly by Taylor and Francis/Routledge, the Journal plays an important role in debates around health, peace and violence.
Titles for 2026 Holdstock-Piachaud Student Essay Prize:
- How effective have international humanitarian agencies been in responding to the health crisis in Gaza? What have been the features of the most effective efforts, and what can be learned from these to improve responses to this and other humanitarian emergencies?
- Indigenous communities have suffered health consequences from various aspects of nuclear weapons production and testing. Identify some of these historical and current exposures, and suggest how they might be addressed, or restitution made.
- Recent cuts to international health aid have had dramatic consequences around the world. Yet some argue that this is an overdue reckoning for the imperialistic/colonial nature of global health, and that in the longer term there may be benefits from reducing aid dependency and the ability of powerful nations to dictate priorities. Discuss.
- It is sometimes argued that public health and medical practitioners should remain politically neutral. In your view, what (if any) responsibility do they, and their professional associations, have for advancing human rights and social justice? Who do you see as exemplars of this work, and why?
Prizes
The entries will be judged by members of the MCS editorial board and the Medact board. The winning entries may be selected by the editors for publication in MCS.
First prize: £500. Three second prizes: £300. Winners will also receive a year’s subscription to MCS and, optionally, may serve as a student representative on the MCS editorial board for a year.
Entry details
For answers to any queries, contact: [email protected]
Entries close at 17:00 GMT on 28th February, 2026.
The competition is open to all students, including those completing their studies in 2025.
The word limit is 2500 and essays should be submitted in Word.
Entrants whose first language is not English may have their entry checked by a fluent English speaker.
Entries by more than one author are acceptable, but should have only one corresponding author.
Entrants can use AI systems to help frame their entry, but what they submit must be their own original work.
The essay should be fully referenced, using the Chicago Author-Date system.
Entries must not have been previously published elsewhere.
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