The Royal Institution (Ri) has again joined forces with the Association of British Science Writers (ABSW) and the BBC, on a national award to help nurture aspiring science writers from UK state-maintained schools. The ABSW Young Science Writer of the Year Award is designed to get students aged 14-16 thinking and writing about the big questions in science, technology, engineering and maths, with a focus on how science impacts on policymaking and society.
Open to any 14 to 16 year-old student from non-selective state-funded schools, the Award is given annually. In 2024, submissions are sought from aspiring science writers in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales, with five categories introduced for the first time, to help focus students’ thinking:
- Climate & Environment
- AI & Technology
- Engineering the Future
- Healthcare & Life Science
- Maths & Physical Sciences
By nurturing aspiring young science writers now, the ABSW and Ri hope that the Award will help maintain robust, evidence-based science writing in the future, contributing to one of UNICEF’s calls for educators to engage in children’s media activities, help develop their critical thinking, and support media and information literacy programmes.
Andy Extance, Chair of the ABSW, said: "The quality of the winning entries from the past two years of this award has been astounding.
"This shows how important it is to focus the award on students from non-selective state funded schools or who are home schooled with disabilities and cannot attend school in person. It highlights that they would do just as amazingly if not even better in science writing and journalism careers as those from more privileged backgrounds."
Katherine Mathieson, Director of the Royal Institution, said: “One of our central aims as a charity is to encourage students to see a future with science, so we are delighted to be partnering with the ABSW again, to offer this valuable opportunity to young writers, now in its third year.
“We are also looking forward to welcoming this year’s writers to a special event at the Ri during the summer term, when our talented winner will become the latest is a distinguished line of scientists to present their research to an audience in the famous Ri Theatre.”
The Young Science Writer of the Year opens for entries from today, Monday 29 January 2024, and will close at 5pm on Monday 4 March. Enlightening, informative and engaging essays of up to 800 words are invited, on any STEM subject, to include analysis, context, and perspective, helping the reader explore and understand the social, ethical, and political implications of scientific advances and the scientific process.
The 2024 award winner will receive £1000 to help with their writing development and a year’s Young Membership from the Ri, and will benefit from coaching from a senior science writer as they seek to explore a potential career in science communication.
The winning entry will be published on the BBC News website, with the writer and their entire class being invited to a science communication event in the Ri’s world-famous theatre in late June.
The Young Science Writer of the Year Award is funded by Alex and Jeff O'Brien, with support from the Ri and the BBC. Submissions can be made via the ABSW website.