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.
