Royal Society Prizes for Science Books

The Royal Society Prizes for Science Books is an annual award for the previous year's best general science writing and best science writing for children. The nominees and winners are decided by the Royal Society, the UK national academy of science. It is generally considered to be the most prestigious science writing award.[1]

The prizes were established in 1988 and were known as the Science Book Prizes until 1990 when they were sponsored by Rhône-Poulenc and became known as the Rhône-Poulenc Prizes for Science Books. Between 2000 and 2006, following the merger of Rhône-Poulenc with Hoechst AG to form Aventis, the prizes were renamed the Aventis Prizes for Science Books. From 2007 to 2010 the prizes were managed and sponsored by the Royal Society.[2] In February 2011 it was announced that Winton Capital Management agreed to a sponsorship deal for the following 5 years and the prizes were renamed as Royal Society Winton Prize for Science Books and Royal Society Young People's Book Prize.[3]

Contents

Judging Process

Entries are open to any book published in English in the preceding calendar year, that can be purchased in the UK. Two judging panels, one for the General Prize (for best general science writing) and one for the Junior Prize (for best science writing for young people up to the age of 14) assess the entries and select a long list of around 12 books and then a shortlist of six books. The General Prize panel then select the winner. The winner of the Junior Prize is selected by panels of school-age children (a total of 800 in 75 groups for the 2005 Prizes). The winner in each category receives £10,000. £1000 per book is awarded to the authors of the remaining shortlisted books.

Royal Society Winton Prize for Science Books

This category is awarded to the best science writing for a non-specialist audience.

2011 Winner

Other nominees:

2010 Winner

Other nominees:

2009 Winner

Other nominees:

2008 Winner

Other nominees:

2007 Winner

Other nominees:

This was the first year that the prizes were given by the Royal Society.

2006 Winner

Other nominees:

It was Jared Diamond's third nomination for the prize, having won twice previously. The 2006 prize was the last one to be sponsored by the Aventis Foundation.

2005 Winner

Other nominees:

2004 Winner

Other nominees:

2003 Winner

Other nominees:

2002 Winner

Other nominees:

2001 Winner

Other nominees:

2000 Winner

Other nominees:

Pre-2000 Winners

Royal Society Young People's Book Prize

This category is awarded to the best science writing for children.

2011 winner

Other nominees:

2009 & 2010

The prize was not awarded in 2009 & 2010 due to funding issues.[7]

2008 winner

The other nominees were:

2007 winner

The other nominees were:

2006 Winner

The other nominees were:

2005 Winner

Other nominees for the Junior Prize:

2004 Winner

Other nominees:

2003 Winner

Other nominees:

2002 Winner

Other nominees:

2001 Winner

Other nominees:

2000 Winner

Other nominees:

Pre-2000 Winners

References

  1. ^ Happiness wins science book prize BBC News, 15 May 2007
  2. ^ History of the science book prizes, The Royal Society
  3. ^ "Call for 2011 Entries" Royal Society Press release 16 February 2011
  4. ^ "Expert in idleness is surprise winner of science book prize", The Independent, 18 November 2011
  5. ^ http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-11595847 Royal Society's science book prize will be the last 21 October
  6. ^ BBC Science News Prize for wonder of science past
  7. ^ Royal Society:2009 Prizes

External links