ABSW Monthly Showcase

Monthly showcase article: November 2024

Sophie Berdugo's article 'Before the Stone Age: Were the first tools made from plants not rocks?' has been selected as November 2024's showcase. The article was published in The New Scientist on November 5.

Sophie is a freelance science writer with a particular interest in the life sciences. She recently completed her PhD in evolutionary anthropology.

Our judges said: 

A fascinating feature telling us what humans did before they used stone implements.

Monthly showcase article: October 2024

Tim Gunn's article 'Cancer metabolism: finding how fast-growing cancers get their energy' was published in Cancer News (Cancer Research UK), and has been selected as October 2024's showcase. 

Tim Gunn writes and edits for Cancer Research UK's Cancer News website - taking complex science about a scary subject and trying to connect it to life as people experience it. 

Our judges said: 

A lively and informative deep dive into some fundamental cancer research.

Monthly showcase article: July/August/September 2024

ABSW Member Yemisi Bokinni's article, 'Dementia: Africa’s unique opportunity for prevention amid rising cases' has been selected as the Monthly Showcase for summer 2024. The article was published in The BMJ on September 2.

Yemisi is a writer and media producer with a medical degree and a bachelor’s degree in human genetics from King’s College London. She is also a freelance health journalist contributing to The BMJ.

Our judges said: 

A fascinating read about an overlooked crisis.

Monthly showcase article: June 2024

ABSW Member Molly Campbell's article, 'Breaking the Chains: How CRISPR Gene Therapy Gave Victoria Gray a New Life' has been selected as June 2024's showcase. The article was published in Technology Networks on June 28.

Molly is a Senior Science Writer at Technology Networks. She reports on a broad range of scientific topics, covering the latest breaking news and writing long-form pieces for The Scientific Observer. Before joining Technology Networks in 2019, Molly worked as a clinical research associate and freelance science writer.

Our judges said: 

Deep dive into the story of one patient turned patient-advocate for gene therapy related to sickle cell disease. Her story showed the human side behind blockbuster science headlines and was written beautifully.

Monthly showcase article: May 2024

ABSW Member Claire Ainsworth's article, 'How ignorance and gender inequality thwart treatment of a widespread illness' has been selected as May 2024's showcase. The article was published in Nature (online) on May 9.

Claire is a freelance science journalist covering biology and biomedicine. She began her career at New Scientist magazine, before joining Nature as a reporter and editor. She has won a number of awards for her writing, including an ABSW award for Best Feature.  

Our judges said: 

Powerful writing telling the story of a neglected tropical disease through the experiences of the women that suffer from it, and those trying to treat it.

Monthly showcase article: April 2024

ABSW Member Yemisi Bokinni's article, 'Barbados is in the grip of a diabetic foot amputation crisis' has been selected as April 2024's showcase. The article was published in The BMJ on April 11.

Yemisi is a health and science writer and multimedia producer with a medical degree and a bachelor’s degree in human genetics from King’s College London. 

Our judges said: 

Their story about the high numbers of foot amputations in Barbados was both surprising, disquieting and fascinating.

Monthly showcase article: March 2024

ABSW Member Anna Napolitano's article, 'Ocean plastic could spread human disease' has been selected as March 2024's showcase. The article was published in the China Dialogue Ocean on March 1.

Anna Napolitano is a freelance science journalist mainly writing about life science and things on her radar of interest. She started her journey as a researcher but has always been more interested in talking about science than doing her experiments, so Anna waved goodbye to the bench at the first chance and became a science journalist. 

Our judges said: 

A really comprehensive look at the extent of the microplastics problem in our marine life.

Monthly showcase article: February 2024

John Whitfield's article "Ant geopolitics", was published in Aeon and has been selected as February 2024's showcase. 

John is the opinion editor at Research Professional News. A journalist specialising in science, his writing has appeared in Nature, The London Review of Books and Slate, among others. He is the author of In the Beat of a Heart (2006), People Will Talk: The Hidden Power of Reputation (2011) and Lost Animals: The Story of Extinct, Endangered and Rediscovered Species (2020).

Our judges said: 

It is a brilliant and thought-provoking look at societies of ants, one of the most fascinating creatures. Beautifully written and packed with science and history. A must-read.

Monthly showcase article: December 2023

Bárbara Pinho's article 'Is modern food lower in nutrients?' was published in Chemistry World and has been selected as December 2023's showcase.

Bárbara is a science communicator with experience working with scientists and magazines like Chemistry World and Discover Magazine. She specialises in science writing, social media management & consulting and is particularly interested in telling stories about technology, climate science & health.

Our judges said:

Barbara Pinho's story digs into controversial science around the decline of nutrients in food over the past hundred and more years, which was fascinating, bringing in data science, climate change, agricultural policy and more. 

Monthly showcase article: November 2023

Emily Farthing's article A surgeon, a physicist and a chemist walk into a bar has been selected as November 2023's showcase. The article was published in Cancer Research UK's Cancer News.

Emily Farthing is a freelance science writer, editor and communicator. She has nearly 10 years' experience supporting scientific, research and healthcare organisations to communicate the impact of their work to a diverse range of audiences. She has a PhD in Biological Sciences. 

Our judges said: 

A compelling piece of science writing, showcasing CRUK projects to detect cancers.

Monthly showcase article: October 2023

Layal Liverpool's article ‘Abortion tests’ developed in Poland spark concern has been selected as October 2023's showcase. The article was published in Nature.

Layal Liverpool is a science journalist reporting for Nature from Berlin. She covers developments in scientific research and policy, with a focus on inequalities in science, medicine and health. Her first book Systemic: How Racism is Making Us Ill, publishes in June.

Our judges said: 

A deeply-researched piece that explains the science but also the politics behind the worry around developing tests that could be used to prosecute women that seek to terminate their pregnancy in a way that is illegal in that country.

Monthly showcase article: September 2023

Bárbara Pinho's article Fighting algal blooms with chemistry, was published in Chemistry World and has been selected as September 2023's showcase. 

Bárbara is a freelance science journalist with experience working with scientists and magazines like Chemistry World and Discover Magazine. She also offers services in science writing, social media management and consulting and is particularly interested in telling stories about agriculture, climate science and health.

Our judges said: 

A fascinating insight into these phenomena, and a great narrative from different scientists looking to understand them better. Great images too.

Monthly showcase article: August 2023

Hilary Guite's podcast 'In Conversation: Can "biological race" explain disparities in health?', was aired by Medical News Today, and has been selected as August 2023's showcase. 

Hilary Guite is a medically qualified doctor who has worked for 35 years in the NHS focussing on improving population level health care outcomes and research into long term conditions such as mental health, diabetes, cardiovascular disease and respiratory disease. 

Five years ago she gained a distinction in the Masters in Science Communication Course at Imperial College London and now has a second career as a science communicator, mainly focusing on podcasts. She is the presenter and producer of Healthline’s Medical News Today: In Conversation podcast, which explores health topics with experts and lived experience side by side. She is producer for GV: Theory and Practice - the latest series explored what it means to be human in the age of human-like AI. She regularly fact-checks articles for Medical News Today and has written for Medical News Today, The Observer, and BBC Science Focus.

Our judges said: 

We love this podcast - such a strong group of women, the podcast format is a great way to tell this story, and the focus on health is wonderful!