ABSW Awards 2023

Awards matter. They let others know that your work is both of a high quality and respected among your peers. An ABSW Award was a huge boost of professional confidence early on in my science writing and broadcasting career. Starting out as a freelance can be tough and isolating and - while people always intend to let you know they’ve enjoyed your work - it’s so easy to forget to pass on compliments or words of encouragement. The calibre of entries makes even getting onto the shortlist an achievement so winning one is undoubtedly special and it’s a momentary pause for celebration and recognition within a demanding yet rewarding profession.

ABSW Award Winner Sue Nelson of Boffin Media

Key Dates

09:00 Sunday January 1, 2023 (GMT) - Awards opened to entry

23:59 Tuesday January 31, 2023 - Awards closed to entry

Monday June 5, 2023 - finalists announced

Thursday July 13, 2023 - winners announced at the annual awards ceremony, The Royal Institution, London

Support the ABSW Awards 2023

With thanks to our 2023 ABSW Award partners

General Rules and Regulations

Work entered must have been published or broadcast on or between 01 January 2022 and 31 December 2022.
The cover date on the issue in which an article appears will be considered the date of publication; The date/time of posting will be considered for online articles, podcasts or blogs; The date/time of first broadcast will be considered for radio or television entries; For a series, the individual episode entered must fall within these dates.
Work entered must be accessible to the general public.
You can only enter once in each category (NB: for teams they must be ‘substantially different’ in order to enter more than once in a category).
You can enter more than one category (NB: for non-members you pay a fee for each category entered).
You cannot enter the same piece of work in different categories, apart from those entering categories where multiple pieces of work are allowed (Editor, British Science Journalist of the Year, Newcomer) as you can then enter these individual pieces in other categories.
Submissions must be substantially about science, technology, engineering or medicine (STEM) or their impacts, rather than non-science pieces about health, medicine or the environment.
The Awards are for works published within the UK or Ireland and are intended for British and Irish based journalists and writers, or those working for audiences in these two countries.
The Awards are for individual journalists and writers, or teams of up to four people, rather than for the organisation, institution, employer or publisher. All team members must be named in team submissions.
The judges reserve the right to reallocate an entry to a category different from the one in which it has been entered, as well as the right to withhold an award in any category. The decision of the judges in all matters will be final. The judges will not provide individual advice or feedback to entrants.
ABSW members cannot (i) submit to any category on behalf of non-member colleagues nor (ii) nominate colleagues – all entries must be submitted directly.

NB: Please read category specific guidance under the description of each category below

Category Guidance

British Science Journalist of the Year (£500) - supported by the ABPI
Individual submissions only.
For excellence and creativity in journalism; this may include but is not limited to:

entertaining and informing audiences
inspiring new generations of journalists and writers

(NB: The winner of British Science Journalist of the Year will be considered the ABSW’s nominee for European Science Journalist of the Year an award run by the European Federation of Science Journalism)

Editor of the Year (£500)
Individual submissions only.
For editing achievements in STEM subjects that go beyond the ordinary; this may include but is not restricted to:

launching or relaunching new sections, publications, websites or other media
demonstrating extraordinary leadership or excellence in breaking significant stories
supporting and developing the editorial team

Particular consideration will be given to submissions from editors who set the overall strategic direction for a particular title, rather than section editors.

Feature of the Year: general audience (£500)
For a feature published in print or online in any title that is primarily consumed by, and aimed at, a general, lay audience, whether broadsheet or tabloid in style. Examples include The Guardian, The Economist, New Scientist, Financial Times, Unearthed, BBC News. The feature may be part of a series or a standalone piece; only one item in the series can be entered to the awards. Please note that the maximum wordcount for the feature is 6,000 words.

Feature of the Year: specialist audience (£500)
For a feature published in print or online in any title that targets specific, specialist audiences such as scientists, health professionals, chemists or engineers, whether trade press or other specialist publication. Examples include Nature, Carbon Brief, Chemistry World, Physics World, Computer Weekly. The feature may be part of a series or a standalone piece; only one item in the series can be entered to the awards. Please note that the maximum wordcount for the feature is 6,000 words.

News Item of the Year (£500)
For a single news item published or broadcast in any medium. Examples include breaking news stories and first in-depth reports. The judges look for evidence that the story is new to a relevant audience, as well as excellent writing and original reporting.

News Analysis or Explanatory Reporting of the Year (£500)
For stories that are neither hard news nor fully-fledged features that provide an insightful explanation of science behind the headlines and valuable new context and background to the news. The judges are looking for excellence and creativity in journalism; this may include but is not limited to:

Insightful explanation of science behind the headlines
Valuable new context and background to the news

Steve Connor Award for Investigative Science Journalism (£500) - in memory of Science Journalist Steve Connor
For an in-depth investigation into a topic of scientific interest, leading to a conclusion. Submissions should detail any lengthy or complicated evidence gathering, and any difficulties faced. The award can be for a single item or a series of items, although only one item in the series can be entered for judging.

Research Policy or Funding Story of the Year (£500)
For stories that tackle policy and funding agendas related to science and technology research.

Opinion Piece/Editorial of the Year (£500)
Individual submissions only.
For written work that expresses an opinion or aims to change opinion. This includes opinion columns, editorial and blogs.

The Royal Society Audio Award (£500) - supported by The Royal Society
For a programme where STEM is the primary issue covered. The award can be for a single programme or series, although only one item in the series can be entered.

Science Podcast of the Year (£500)
For a podcast where STEM is the primary issue covered. The award can be for a single episode or series, although only one item in the series can be entered.

Video of the year (£500)
For a programme where STEM is the primary issue covered. The award can be for a single programme or series, although only one item in the series can be entered.

Stephen White Award for reporting of science in a non-science context (£500) - in memory of science communicator Stephen White
For making complicated ideas accessible to the non-specialist general public and in outlets that do not normally cover science stories. STEM publications and programmes, publications that routinely and frequently publish STEM articles, or STEM sections of publications (New Scientist, BBC Radio Inside Science) are not eligible.

The Dr Katharine Giles Award for best popular article written by a scientist or engineer (£500) - supported by the Dr Katharine Giles Fund
Individual submissions only.
For a specific article aimed at a lay audience. The winner will be offered media skills training through the Dr Katharine Giles Fund. The judges are looking for excellence and creativity in journalism; this may include but is not limited to:

Quality of journalism and clarity of reporting
Creativity in reaching a new audience
Likely impact
Ability to translate complex themes

Newcomer of the Year (£500) - supported by The Quadram Institute
Individual submissions only.
For science writers who published their first ‘professional’ piece within the past three years (01 January 2020 – 31 December 2022). Entrants should be currently working in journalism, whether freelance or staff, full-time or part-time. The judges are looking for evidence of initiative and career progression, as well as quality journalism and depth of reporting.

With thanks to our media partner AlphaGalileo

Key Dates

Categories

General Rules and Regulations

Category Guidance