Picture: Clive Cookson (blue shirt) is announced as winner of the lifetime achievement award
Winners of the Association of British Science Writers (ABSW) Awards 2025 were announced at an Awards Ceremony tonight (Wednesday, July 9, 2025). The UK’s leading science journalists and broadcasters joined host Dr Suze Kundu, Science Communicator and Journalist, at the Royal Institution to learn who had won in the eleven categories open to entry in the 2025 awards.
Clive Cookson of the Financial Times received the ABSW’s most prestigious award – the Lifetime Achievement Award - for his lifelong career in journalism.
Clive became Financial Times senior science writer in October 2023, after more than 30 years as science editor.
In his nominating statement, Andy Extance, Chair of the ABSW, said: "Through his lifelong career in science journalism, Clive has made an immeasurable contribution to excellence in the field and demonstrates the exact qualities and achievements that the ABSW wishes to acknowledge through its lifetime achievement award."
Martin Ince, Chair of the Judging Panel, and a freelance science, education writer, media adviser & media trainer, spoke during the ceremony about the judging process: "Not for the first time, we are in awe of the number and quality of the entries that we were called upon to assess. They are proof that the UK and Ireland produce terrific science writing for every imaginable medium, in every possible format, and for every community of interest here and around the world."
"I commend all entrants, finalists and winners for your contribution to science and technology journalism in 2024, and I hope you continue to produce such varied, vital and insightful work in 2025 and beyond." - Martin Ince, Chair of the Judging Panel
Of note this year was the newcomer category, where the judges said: "We were impressed with the quality of all entries and noted how many of the entrants had been supported by ABSW activities, from summer school to 'meet the editor' sessions, and the Monthly showcase. The ABSW is to be commended for being a place for early-career journalists to flourish."
View the full list of winners 2025
The ABSW Awards are open for entry throughout January each year and are supported by the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry, The Royal Society, Dr Katharine Giles Fund, and AlphaGalileo.
Winners receive a certificate, £500 and the much-coveted ‘award-winning science journalist’ mug.
