Deadline: March 24, 2023
Applications are open for the Royal Society Trivedi Science Book Prize 2023. The Royal Society Science Book Prize has championed outstanding popular science writing and authors since 1988. Currently it is the only major international prize that celebrates all areas of science writing for a non-specialist audience.
The Prize is awarded each year by a panel of expert judges to the book that makes science accessible to a mass audience through exciting and engaging content. The judging panel is selected to include a Royal Society Fellow, one of the most eminent scientists in the world, and a Royal Society Research Fellow, selected as an outstanding early career scientist, and high-profile individuals from the cultural and literary world. Pivotal in promoting a wider understanding of science and its role in society, the Prize advocates books that challenge the public perception that science writing can be too difficult or uninteresting to engage readers.
Prizes
For 2023, prizes of up to a total of £37,500 are awarded:
- The author of the winning book will receive £25,000 .
- £2,500 per book is awarded to the author(s) of up to five shortlisted books.
- All the prize money will be awarded as described above. Where a book has more than one author, the Royal Society will agree the allocation of the prize money with the publisher.
Eligibility
- The subject matter of the books entered may include any aspect of popular science and technology, including biographies of scientists and technologists, and histories of science and technology.
- The Prize rewards books that best contribute to making science more accessible to public adult audiences. Judges will look for books they deem stimulating, engaging, clear, accessible, and high-quality. These books might challenge people’s views that science is too difficult, boring, or inaccessible.
- The judges’ interpretation of “popular science books” excludes books published primarily for scientific, professional or specialist audiences and pure reference works including encyclopaedias, educational textbooks, and descriptive books. The judges’ decision on the eligibility of an entry is final.
- Books in the same series may be judged together or separately, at the sole discretion of the judges.
- The first publication in English must have been between 1 July 2022 and 30 September 2023 inclusive for all books entered. Books which were first published between 1 July 2022 and 30 September 2022 may only be submitted on the condition that they were not submitted for the Royal Society Insight Investment Science Book Prize 2022. The only exceptions are for any books in which:
- Any member of the judging panel has a direct involvement, which may be deferred for consideration in the following year.
- The Chair of Judges has agreed prior to submission that there have been extenuating circumstances.
- Books entered must be in the English language.
- Books entered must be available to purchase in the UK through a UK bookstore or through an online retailer at time of entry.
- Books entered which haven’t been published yet are eligible as long as preview copies of the book (proof or manuscripts) are available by 3 April 2023. Uncorrected proofs, manuscripts or PDF sections of the book are acceptable as a preview copy, providing that the final versions are sent to the Royal Society before 1 June 2023. Books that are in the process of being reprinted at the time of entry (e.g.: as paperback when originally published as hardback) are acceptable.
- Employees and Officers of the Royal Society or any associated company of the Royal Society and their immediate families, persons connected with the competition/prize draw and their immediate families will not be eligible to submit publications.
- There is no restriction on the geographical location of the publisher of any entry. There are no restrictions on the nationality, age or any other characteristic of the author(s) or illustrator(s) of any entry.
- The copies entered must be paper-based and bound. For printed books we would expect the latest edition of the paperback or hardback. For eBooks they would expect the current edition of the eBook, printed and bound.
- A PDF version of each book must be submitted. Submissions without a PDF will not be considered. PDF’s can be submitted to [email protected]
- Publishers may submit as many books as they wish and are encouraged to do so.
- There is no charge to enter.
Application
- Each book entered must be submitted by the book’s publisher.
- Ensure you have read all the terms of entry before submitting your entry/entries.
- For each book you are entering:
- Complete the full online entry form. A separate form must be completed for each book.
- A PDF copy of each book must be submitted through the online entry form or by emailing it to [email protected]
- Send seven copies (non-returnable) of each book.
Books should be mailed to:
The Royal Society Science Book Prize
6-9 Carlton House Terrace
London
SW1Y 5AG
United Kingdom
To arrive by 6pm (GMT) on Friday 24 March 2023. Courier contact for delivery: 020 7451 2500
For more information, visit Royal Society Science Book Prize.