It is generally considered to be the most prestigious science writing award, and is sometimes referred to as the Booker Prize of science writing. It was formerly known as the ''Rhône-Poulenc Prizes''.
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 longlist 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.
The winners of the 2006 Prizes will be announced on 16 May 2006 . The books shortlisted for the General prize are:
- Power, Sex, Suicide - Mitochondria and the Meaning of Life, by Nick Lane
- Empire of the Stars - Friendship, Obsession and Betrayal in the Quest for Black Holes, by Arthur I Miller
- Parallel Worlds - The Science of Alternative Universes and our Future in the Cosmos, by Michio Kaku
- Electric Universe - How Electricity Switched on the Modern World, by David Bodanis
- Collapse - How Societies Choose to Fail or Survive, by Jared Diamond
- The Truth About Hormones - What's Going on when We're Tetchy, Spotty, Fearful, Tearful or Just Plain Awful, by Vivienne Parry
It is Jared Diamond's third nomiantion for the prize, having won twice previously.
The winners were announced on May 12 , 2005 :
- ''Critical Mass: How One Thing Leads to Another'', by Philip Ball ISBN 0374281254
Junior Prize:
The other nominees for 2005 were:
- '' The Ancestor's Tale '', by Richard Dawkins
- ''Why Life Speeds Up As You Get Older'', by Douwe Draaisma
- ''Matters Of Substance: Drugs - And Why Everyone's A User'', by Griffith Edwards
- ''The Earth: An Intimate History'', by Richard Fortey
- ''The Human Mind'', by Robert Winston
Other nominees for the Junior Prize:
- ''Kingfisher Knowledge: Endangered Planet'', by David Burnie
- ''Mysteries And Marvels Of Science'', by Phillip Clarke, Laura Howell, and Sarah Khan
- ''Leap Through Time: Earthquake'', by Nicholas Harris
- ''Night Sky Atlas'', by Robin Scagell
- ''Kingfisher Knowledge: Microscopic Life'', by Richard Walker
This category is awarded to the best science writing for a non-specialist audience.
The winner was announced on June 14 2004 :
The other nominees for 2004 were:
Other nominees:
Other nominees:
Other nominees:
Other nominees:
- (1999) '' The Man Who Loved Only Numbers '', Paul Hoffman
- (1998) '' Guns, Germs And Steel '', Jared Diamond
- (1997) '' The Wisdom Of Bones '', Alan Walker and Pat Shipman
- (1996) '' Plague’s Progress '', Arno Karlen
- (1995) '' The Consumer’s Good Chemical Guide '', John Emsley
- (1994) '' The Language Of The Genes '', Steve Jones
- (1993) '' The Making Of Memory '', Steven Rose
- (1992) '' The Rise And Fall Of The Third Chimpanzee '', Jared Diamond
- (1991) '' Wonderful Life '', Stephen Jay Gould
- (1990) '' The Emperor's New Mind '', Roger Penrose
- (1989) '' Bones Of Contention '', Roger Lewin
- (1988) '' Living With Risk '', British Medical Association Board Of Science
This category is awarded to the best science writing for children.
Other nominees:
Other nominees:
Other nominees:
Other nominees:
Other nominees:
- (1999) '' The Usborne Complete Book Of The Microscope '', Kirsteen Rogers
- (1998) '' The Kingfisher Book Of Oceans '', David Lambert
- (1997) ''
- (1996) '' The World Of Weather '', Chris Maynard
- (1995) '' The Most Amazing Pop-Up Science Book '', Jay Young
- (1994)
- --- '''', Linda Gamlin
- --- '' Science With Weather '', Rebecca Heddle and Paul Shipton
- --- '' The Ultimate Dinosaur Book '', David Lambert
- (1993) '' Mighty Microbes '', Thompson Yardley
- (1992) '' The Amazing Voyage Of The Cucumber Sandwich '', Peter Rowan
- (1991) '' Cells Are Us And Cell Wars '', Fran Balkwill and Mic Rolph
- (1990)
- --- (under-14) '''', Susan Mayes
- --- (under-8) '' The Giant Book Of Space '', Ian Ridpath
- (1989) '' The Way Things Work '', David Macaulay and Neil Ardley
- (1988) '' Science Alive – Living Things '', Roger Kerrod
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