Deadline: July 19, 2019
Nominations are invited for the John Maddox Prize 2019 for Standing up for Science. The John Maddox Prize recognises the work of individuals who promote science and evidence, advancing the public discussion around difficult topics.
Sir John Maddox, whose name this prize commemorates, was a passionate and tireless champion and defender of science, engaging with difficult debates and inspiring others to do the same. As a writer and editor, he changed attitudes and perceptions, and strove for better understanding and appreciation of science throughout his long working life.
Prize
- The winner of the John Maddox Prize receives £3000, and an announcement of the winner is published in Nature. The award is presented at a reception hosted at Wellcome Collection in November.
- An additional award is also made to someone who in the opinion of the judges is at an early stage of their career.
Eligibility
- This is a global prize: people from any country and in any field can be nominated.
- The John Maddox Prize for Standing up for Science is awarded to an individual for any kind of public activity in any of the areas listed below:
- Addressing misleading information about scientific issue (including social science and medicine).
- Bringing sound evidence to bear in a public or policy debate.
- Helping people to make sense of a complex scientific issue.
- An additional prize is awarded to an individual who in the opinion of the judges is at an early stage of their career.
- Staff, trustees and directors of the supporting organisations and previous winners and previous or current members of the judging panel and their direct relations are not eligible for nomination for the prize, though they may nominate. It is open to anyone else, including those commended or nominated in previous years and people who have published with or worked with either organisation as contributors, advisers or in other collaborations.
Judging Process
The winner is chosen by a judging panel, not by Sense about Science. Candidates will be judged on the strength of their nomination based on the below criteria:
- How clearly the individual advanced the discussion of good science, despite challenges.
- The nature of the challenge(s) faced by the individual.
- How well they placed the evidence in the wider debate and engaged others.
- Their level of influence on the public debate.
Nomination
For more information, visit John Maddox Prize.
