Arron Rodrigues (17), who goes to Oundle School, has been awarded first place in The Daily Telegraph/Bayer Science Writer Awards 2008 in the 15 to 19 age category.

The competition, which gives young science writers the chance to write on any scientific or science-related subject, is backed by the Royal Society, the nation's academy of science. The judges included Sir David Attenborough and novelist Fay Weldon.

Arron's article, Curing Cancer: Nanoshells Light the Way, discusses the approval given for American company Nanospectra Biosciences Inc. to "commence a human trial in patients with head and neck cancer" this year using "AuroLase Therapy" as an alternative to conventional treatments such as chemotherapy and radiotherapy.

Arron, currently in the Lower Sixth form at Oundle School, is studying maths, further maths, physics, chemistry and biology, and wants to study engineering at university.

On why he chose this subject for his article, Arron said: "'Magic Bullet' treatments publicised in the media often give false hope of possible cures for cancer.

"This treatment actually had scientific evidence which backed up its claims and seemed to be a genuinely promising project, which began in a university lab."

The award gives the winners a chance to see their articles published and the opportunity to spend a day in the Daily Telegraph's newsroom in London. Previous winners now work for a range of well-respected papers, magazines and scientific journals.

As well as a cash prize, Arron will also receive a work placement within the industry and subscriptions to Nature and New Scientist magazines.