Coccus Pocus 2026: A Halloween Scary Story Competition

The 8th Coccus Pocus storytelling competition returns this October 2026, bringing together microbiology and the spooky art of storytelling.

This year’s theme is: Microbial therapeutics (probiotics, phages, engineered bacteria) against pathogenic antibiotic-resistant microbes and their biofilms.

Can you think of a scary story where good bugs come to the rescue?

The rules

  • Story length: 500–2,000 words
  • Make it scary!
  • Deadline: 31 October 2026

Prizes (provided by EBNet)

🥇 First prize: £100
🥈 Second prize: £30
🥉 Third prize: £20

Send your stories to g.efthimiou@hull.ac.uk by 31 October 2026.

Coccus Pocus
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