The Royal Society of New Zealand Manhire Prize for Creative Science Writing

The Royal Society of New Zealand, in association with the New Zealand Listener and the International Institute of Modern Letters (IIML), at Victoria University of Wellington, has established a prize for creative science writing.

The Royal Society of New Zealand Manhire Prize for Creative Science Writing will have two cash prizes of $2500 each for the best fiction and non-fiction entries. The entries will be shortlisted by IIML and the winners judged by Radio NZ National presenter, Kim Hill CRSNZ.

The competition has been established in response to the popularity of the Are Angels OK? Project, which brought together writers and scientists. The Prize is named after Bill Manhire, who directed the collaboration so ably, together with physicist Professor Paul Callaghan.

There will be a different topic theme each year. In 2007, it is climate change. Writers will be asked to base their entries on this statement:

'Many scientists believe that climate change is a serious threat to human civilisation. Regardless of climate change, we need to find sustainable forms of agriculture, manufacturing and energy. How will we respond? How can we respond?'

This theme applies to both the fiction and creative non-fiction categories. Entries will be judged on their literary merits, and the extent to which they are likely to engage the reader.

The New Zealand Listener will publicise the prize and publish the winning entries. The competition closes on 16 August. Full details of the entry conditions are at http://www.listener.co.nz