[Last night marked the ]{style=“font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;”} Access to Understanding [2014 science-writing competition award ceremony.]{style=“font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;”} [ ]{style=“font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;”} [At its heart, the competition is a celebration.

[We are pleased to announce the launch of our first ever People’s Choice Award for the Access to Understanding science-writing competition!

[The Access to Understanding science-writing competition 2014 attracted over 260 entrants. As an international competition we were thrilled to receive entries from 14 different countries.

[by Emma Pewsey]{style=“font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;”} [Winner, Access to Understanding 2013]{style=“font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;”} [This post is particularly aimed at those of you who are thinking about entering the Access to Understanding competition who have never entered a science writing competition before.

[We are thrilled that you are considering entering Europe PMC’s Access to Understanding science writing competition, in partnership with The British Library.

[ Access to Understanding is a prestigious, international science-writing competition aimed at PhD students and early career post-doctoral researchers, developed by Europe PubMed Central and The British Library.]{style=“font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;”} [[]{style=“font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;”}]{style=“font-family: "arial narrow" , "sans-serif";”} [[The winner

[by Emma Pewsey (University of Cambridge, UK)]{style=“font-family: "arial";”} [Winner of Access to Understanding 2013]{style=“font-family: "arial";”} [X-rays can now be used not only to show where bones have fractured, but also to investigate why these bones break in the first place.

[By Claire Sand (King’s College London, UK)]{style=“font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;”} [Awarded joint 2nd prize for Access to Understanding 2013]{style=“font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;”} [For years scientists have attempted to harness the potential of stem cells for repairing damaged blood vessels.

[By Ian Le Guillou (University of Cambridge, UK)]{style=“font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;”} [Awarded joint 2nd prize for Access to Understanding 2013]{style=“font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;”} [[A mutation that allows cells to grow out of control could also provide a new way to target and destroy cancer cells.

[by Nina Rzechorzek (University of Edinburgh, UK)]{style=“font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;”} [Short-listed for Access to Understanding 2013]{style=“font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;”} []{style=“font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;”} [ [How do nerve cells die?]{style=“font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" ,