Illinois Science Council’s blog, Science Unsealed, is hosting a science poetry contest!

We know the science crowd out there has an artsy side, and we want to see it. Our first science poetry contest is for the best science haiku – a Sci-Ku, if you will. Here is our entry form.

In case you need a refresher, here are the details of a haiku:

1. A haiku has 3 lines, and each is a phrase.
2. The first line has 5 syllables, the second has 7, and the third has 5.
3. A haiku usually mentions or implies the season.

Here’s an example by renowned haiku poet, Matsuo Basho:

An old silent pond…
A frog jumps into the pond,
Splash! Silence again.

Contest Requirements

Your haiku must fit into one of our very broad categories:

• Biology ‘n’ brains
• Space, time, and waves
• Robots
• Nature/climate
• Bonus CATegory: cats! (Who doesn’t like a poem about cats?)

Submit your best original Sci-Ku using this form, and make sure to indicate the category. You can enter as many haiku as you like. The deadline to submit your SciKu is 2/6/2020. Your SciKu must follow the traditional format of a haiku. To be eligible to win, you must provide us with your first and last name and your email address.

Winning

Knowing your audience is always a plus, so keep in mind that ISC is a nonpartisan group, and that we are a bunch of science-enthusiasts. Your winning poem will be featured on ISC’s social media accounts, and you might even get a cool science prize! You’ll be credited and you’ll get to keep the rights to your poem. Winners will be selected by the Illinois Science Council Associates Board by 3/1/2020. Winners will be notified by email.

Excited about this? Great! Keep an eye out for our quarterly science poetry contests featuring limericks and sonnets, and maybe even a science-themed poetry slam.

Our contest opens today, so get those creative juices flowing!