Inspire young people to read about the exciting world of science

If your child is a member of an after school club, reading group, or anyother type of youth group, the Royal Society, the UK’s national academy ofscience, would like to invite them to help to judge the winner of this year’sRoyal Society Young People’s Book Prize, which celebrates the best books thatcommunicate science to young people aged up to 14.  The books can befactual or fictional, just as long as they make science exciting – no textbooksor encyclopaedias allowed!  Publishers across the UK have been submittingtheir best recent books that communicate science to young people and an adultjudging panel will narrow down the choice to a shortlist of six books.  Followingthat, groups of young people will discuss the books and collectively select thewinner. Participation is open to any group of young people that is able to readand discuss the shortlist and recommend their choice for who should win.

Groups who are selected to take part in the judging will receive acomplete set of the six shortlisted books for them to read, discuss and votefor their favourite book.  Each group’s entry will then be sent back tothe Royal Society, who will count up the votes and announce the overall winnerin late 2012.  75 groups will be selected to receive a complete set of theshortlisted books free; however, if your group isn’t selected to receive a setof books, you can still participate if you’re able to buy the booksyourself.  Please note that the prize is open to groups only and applicationsfrom individuals cannot be accepted.

Applications from groups to participate in the judging process must bereceived by Monday 30 April 2012. If you would like to enter on behalf of ayouth group or other club, please visit http://royalsociety.org/sciencebooks/young-people/judges/.

Previous prizewinners haveincluded How the World Works by Christiane Dorion & Beverley Young, Canyou feel the force? by Richard Hammond and Horrible Science: ReallyRotten Experiments by Nick Arnold and Tony de Saulles. 

The RoyalSociety Young People’s Book Prize did not take place in 2008 - 2010 due tofunding issues but restarted in 2011 thanks to the generosity of an anonymousdonor.