NEW SCIENCE BOOK PRIZE FOR WRITERS AND PUBLISHERS – SHORTLISTED TITLES APPEAR BELOW

Teacher, blogger, palaeontologist, and science historian, these are some of the day jobs held by the writers whose books are shortlisted in the inaugural Royal Society of New Zealand Science Book Prize, announced recently.

The judges, Professor Jean Fleming, Professor Harry Ricketts and Professor Brian Boyd, said “The quality and diversity of the books entered for the prize was wonderful to see”.

The Royal Society of New Zealand, our national science academy, established the prize for popular science books in December 2008 to celebrate the very best in this genre. The prize is $10,000 for the author(s) and $2,500 for the publisher.

WINNER ANNOUNCED!
Celebrated author Richard Dawkins announced the winner of New Zealand’s first prize for popular science writing.

Speaking by video link from Britain to an audience of 800 at the Auckland Writers and Readers Festival on Friday 15 May, Richard Dawkins declared 'The Awa Book of New Zealand Science' to be the inaugural winner of the Royal Society of New Zealand Science Book Prize.

Judges Comments:
Scientific enchantment: a time machine that takes us into the times, the words, the minds, the passions and the discoveries of New Zealand scientists, and produces thrill after thrill of recognition, surprise and inspiration.

The eclectic mix of scientific writing, letters and poetry defies all stereotypes and opens up a world of curiosity, wonder and excitement.

The essays offer us not just specific findings and insights but also a kind of unofficial history of New Zealand, while the poems shine unexpected lights on the scientists and their subjects. Brilliantly edited to show the role of science in New Zealand culture and art.