The Evolutionary Psychiatry SIG Essay Prize
Submissions for the Charles Darwin Essay Prize
What you can win
- Invitation to give a 10-min oral presentation at the EPSIG International conference held in person on 6 November 2026 for the psychiatry core and specialty trainee winners only.
- ?100 prize money and a certificate for the winner in each category, certificates for the runners-up
- Essays printed in the EPSIG Newsletter that is distributed to all EPSIG members (currently over 3000 psychiatrists and other professionals worldwide)
What you need to do
Write a 1,500 to 2,000-word essay (excluding references) relevant to Evolutionary Psychiatry. The essay should be supported by a review of relevant literature and must be your own intellectual work.
The title is: “How an evolutionary perspective can improve our understanding of … (anything to do with psychiatry)".
You may want to visit the EPSIG at Youtube.com/EPSIGUK, listen to the 'Evolving Psychiatry' podcast (on ), or read our published newsletters for inspiration and information.
Email your submission to sigs@rcpsych.ac.uk with 'Entry for EPSIG Essay prize' as the subject line, along with the following details:
- Full name
- College number
- Category you are submitting your entry for
- Confirmation that you are working in the UK.
Deadline 1 September 2026.
Eligibility
There are five categories:
- Medical student
- Foundation doctor
- Resident in core training
- Resident in higher/speciality training
- Staff grade doctor.
You have to be working in the UK in order to be eligible to enter.
What we will do
critical thinking and the overall ability to convey enthusiasm and originality.
The committee reserves the right not to award the prize if no entry reaching the agreed minimum standard is received. Winners and highly commended other entrants will be informed by 15 October 2026.
We look forward to receiving your entry.