Two Haileybury students have been shortlisted in the 2026 John Locke Institute Global Essay Prize, earning international recognition for their ability to engage with complex ideas and develop thoughtful, original arguments.
This prestigious competition attracts entries from students from around the world, inviting them to respond to challenging questions across a range of disciplines, including Philosophy, Politics, Science and Technology, Law and International Relations. All entries are judged by a panel of senior academics from leading universities including Oxford, Cambridge, Harvard, Princeton and Stanford, making shortlisting a significant achievement.
Year 9 student, Wisdom, was shortlisted in the Philosophy category for his essay exploring ‘What consolations does Philosophy offer?’ He said he was drawn to the competition as an opportunity to express and challenge himself, deepen his writing, and test his ideas against students from around the world.
Anay, in Year 11, was shortlisted in one of the new categories, Science and Technology, with the question “is space exploration a necessity or an indulgence?”
This topic was a natural fit for Anay, reflecting his longstanding interest and involvement in space-related research and study over several years, such as recently representing Australia at the International Science and Engineering Fair in Phoenix, taking the stage as the youngest presenter at the 76th International Astronautical Congress in Sydney and International Conference on Environmental Sciences in Prague last year.
For Anay, the challenge was not in generating ideas, but in refining them. With a 2,000-word limit, entrants were required to develop a depth of thought through research, developing clear, persuasive and succinct arguments about evidence and ideas most important to them.
Anay focused on shaping his persuasive argument without losing the complexity and nuance of the argument. He thoroughly enjoyed the process saying, “It gave me an outlet during the busy VCE SAC period while undertaking two accelerated 3/4 subjects, Biology and Latin, as it felt less like preparing an entry for a competition and more like putting thoughts I had carried for a long time into a coherent piece of writing.”
The year’s competition attracted over 100,277 submissions with only 17.5 per cent being shortlisted which places Anay and Wisdom among the strongest entrants in a highly competitive international competition.
Reflecting on the experience, both students described the process as being rewarding. Anay found the competition’s new interview process particularly valuable as it prompted him to revisit the way he developed his argument and defended his assumptions. He was in London when the results were announced, which made the moment feel especially memorable. He was especially excited to learn that his submission had resonated with the judges. “Being shortlisted and seeing something I had genuinely enjoyed writing be recognised by the judges, was incredibly rewarding,” said Anay.
For Wisdom, he found that “participation in the competition taught me the importance of rigorous argument. The tight word count does not leave any room to hide behind abstractions and grandeur.” He was both happy and relieved when he received the news about being shortlisted and says, “It alleviated the stress that I had carried with me for months.”
Both shortlisted students have been invited to attend the John Locke Institute Academic Conference and Awards weekend on 2–4 October, where attendees have the opportunity to meet other shortlisted students and to engage with speakers and academics in attendance.
Wisdom is particularly looking forward to attending the Gala Dinner which will be held at the Grosvenor House Hotel in Mayfair, London.
For both students, being shortlisted represents more than competition success. It is also recognition of their passions, discipline and capacity to engage with big, global ideas, and the value in pursuing interests beyond the classroom. We wish them both the best of luck at the upcoming Gala Dinner and Awards Announcement.
