Creativity is at the centre of any research. Ultimately, researchers are at their core no different to artists. They observe the world around them, wonder at its possibilities, dream up ideas and either bring them to life or look so deeply into the world around them that they notice something or see something in a way the rest of the world may have missed, caught up in their busy lives. Science, much like art, is no good kept to oneself. As important and wonderful as it may be revelling in one's own discovery or creation, sharing this newfound vision is also essential. It encourages further growth in this vision, allows collaboration, new possibilities and creations leading to innovations which we could have never comprehended to manifest in reality. This highlights why being a good communicator is such a useful skill, if not an essential one, for any researcher.

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Essay competitions are an amazing way to fine-tune your focus and gain an appreciation for the extent of the research being conducted in any field by researchers all over the world, while also getting in some solid written science communication practice. The idea is simple: you choose a topic area, research around it a little bit and then eventually you write up your own thoughts and ideas and a justification of how you got there. Not only do they make excellent additions to a personal statement (whether you win or not) but they also often give you a very good insight into current affairs and naturally lead you to start thinking around your subject, encouraging questioning of ideas, formulating opinions about various issues and understanding the world of research and good scientific practice. They can also be an excellent way to try your hand at science journalism! On a side note, you can also win a significant amount of cash from some of these competitions!