ABSW member European Science Journalist of the Year 2025
ABSW member Helen Pearson wins, with ABSW member Michael Peel runner-up.
Helen Pearson, journalist and editor for Nature and ABSW member, won the European Science Journalist of the Year award for 2025. Michael Peel, Financial Times’ science editor and also ABSW member, was the first runner-up. The third place went to Jonas Reese and Christopher Weingart, a joint entry nominated by the German association Wissenschaftspressekonferenz (WPK).
"The award was a genuine surprise, as I honestly expected one of the other very talented journalists to win. Their work is outstanding." – Helen Pearson, editor for Nature
The announcement was made by the European Federation for Science Journalism at a joint event with the Swiss Academy of Arts and Sciences held in Bern, Switzerland, on 24 October 2025.
The award recognises and promotes excellence and innovation in science journalism across Europe, with nominations coming from national science journalism associations or as individual entries. This year’s award is sponsored by Elsevier. The first-place winner was awarded a prize of €1,000; second- and third-place winners received €500 each.
“Looking at the prize-winning projects from across Europe gives us a unique opportunity to see how colleagues in different countries approach similar challenges — how they analyse evidence, communicate complex research, and engage their audiences,” said Dr Astrid Viciano, Vice President of the EFSJ, during the ceremony.
Helen Pearson told ABSW she is "incredibly grateful" for this award. "It means a huge amount to win the award, as it recognises the hard work that goes into producing high-quality, accurate science journalism – not just by me, but by the editors and other team members at Nature who are instrumental in publishing our articles."
Her entry included three Nature Magazine features about the importance and challenges of using evidence from research:
- Science could solve some of the world’s biggest problems. Why aren’t governments using it?
- Can AI review the scientific literature — and figure out what it all means?
- The science of protests: how to shape public opinion and swing votes
In 2025, the ABSW covered the entry fee for any of its members wishing to make an entry to the Award. In total, eight ABSW members entered.
Edited on 6 November 2025 to include Helen's quotes.
