ABSW Monthly Showcase

Monthly showcase article: September 2023

Bárbara Pinho's article Fighting algal blooms with chemistry, was published in Chemistry World and has been selected as September 2023's showcase. 

Bárbara is a freelance science journalist with experience working with scientists and magazines like Chemistry World and Discover Magazine. She also offers services in science writing, social media management and consulting and is particularly interested in telling stories about agriculture, climate science and health

Our judges said: 

A fascinating insight into these phenomena, and a great narrative from different scientists looking to understand them better. Great images too.

Monthly showcase article: August 2023

Hilary Guite's podcast 'In Conversation: Can "biological race" explain disparities in health?', was aired by Medical News Today, and has been selected as August 2023's showcase. 

Hilary Guite is a medically qualified doctor who has worked for 35 years in the NHS focussing on improving population level health care outcomes and research into long term conditions such as mental health, diabetes, cardiovascular disease and respiratory disease. 

Five years ago she gained a distinction in the Masters in Science Communication Course at Imperial College London and now has a second career as a science communicator, mainly focusing on podcasts. She is the presenter and producer of Healthline’s Medical News Today: In Conversation podcast, which explores health topics with experts and lived experience side by side. She is producer for GV: Theory and Practice - the latest series explored what it means to be human in the age of human-like AI. She regularly fact-checks articles for Medical News Today and has written for Medical News Today, The Observer, and BBC Science Focus.

Our judges said: 

We love this podcast - such a strong group of women, the podcast format is a great way to tell this story, and the focus on health is wonderful!

Monthly showcase article: August 2023

Martin Angler's article 'When grief doesn't end' was published in Aeon, and has been selected as August 2023's showcase. 

Martin W. Angler is a freelance science journalist with a background in technology and environmental journalism. His work has appeared on the BBC, in Scientific American and in major German and Swiss newspapers such as Neue Zürcher Zeitung, ZEIT Online, SPIEGEL Online, Motherboard Germany, P.M. Magazin and Bild der Wissenschaft. He was also a regular contributor to two radio programmes on technology on the Italian public broadcaster RAI, and to leading interdisciplinary science projects at the European Academy of Bolzano.

Our judges said: 

The grief story was excellent, so personal, written beautifully with such strong narrative, but also really deeply researched and full of detail and explanation.

Monthly showcase article: July 2023

Andy Extance's article 'Chemist who survived thallium poisoning speaks out' has been selected as July 2023's showcase. The article was published in Chemical and Engineering News on 16 July 2023.

Andy has been a freelance science writer since 2003, working for employers such as Chemistry World and BBC Future. He was news editor for Compound Semiconductor magazine from 2006-2009. He is also a director of Exeter Community Energy, director of Exeter Empirical and Editor-in-chief of ScienceSeeker, as well as the ABSW's Chair.

Our judges said: 

This piece is extraordinary! It is a spectacular piece of stamina and investigative reporting.

Monthly showcase article: May 2023

Kira Coley's article 'A green hero' was published in Oceanographic, and has been selected as ABSW's May showcase of writing by our talented members.

Kira is a freelance writer, editor and strategic communications consultant, specialising in ocean science and technology. Kira helps the ocean sector "enhance its narratives, translate complex topics, and amplify reach to global audiences".

Our judges said: 

This is a compelling story alongside beautiful images about saving the Mediterranean. All should read this!

Monthly showcase article: April 2023

Ruairi Mackenzie's article: “A Second Chance at Life”: Can Gene Therapies Beat Rare Disease? has been selected as April 2023's showcase. The article was published in Technology Networks on 1 April.

Ruairi started with Technology Networks in January 2018 after completing an undergraduate degree in neuroscience at the University of Edinburgh and a master’s degree in clinical neuroscience from the University of Cambridge. As senior science writer, Ruairi covers a range of scientific news and articles, with a focus on the complexities and curiosities of the brain. Ruairi also looks after search engine optimization (SEO) efforts on Technology Networks and created the site’s podcast, Opinionated Science, in 2020.

Our judges said: 

Interweaving deeply moving personal stories from patients with complex regulatory and genetic information led to a compelling, moving and really interesting feature.

Monthly showcase article: March 2023

Jane Feinmann's article Cholera makes a comeback amid calls to boost vaccine production has been selected as March 2023's showcase. The article was published in the BMJ on 29 March 2023.

Jane Feinmann is a freelance writer contributing regularly to the BMJ.

Our judges said: 

This is a thorough deep dive into a timely and overlooked story that could have far-reaching consequences.

Monthly showcase article: February 2023

ABSW Member Melissa Hobson's article 'Extremely rare phantom jellyfish caught on camera' has been selected as February 2023's showcase. The article was published in the National Geographic on 10 February.

Melissa Hobson writes about the ocean. She's a writer and PR consultant specialising in marine science, conservation and sustainability. As well as writing for a range of publications about marine biology and conservation, Melissa also helps charities and for-purpose organisations big and small with messaging projects, articles, blogs, press releases, annual reports, white papers and more. She's also been a certified scuba diver for 13+ years and has logged about 250 dives in destinations around the world - which is the main reason she adores the ocean and is passionate about protecting it. 

Our judges said: 

It's an amazing and fascinating story about this weird mysterious creature.

Monthly showcase article: January 2023

ABSW Member Rosa Furneaux's article, written with Laura Margottini, 'The drug was meant to save children’s lives. Instead, they’re dying' has been selected as January 2023's showcase. The article was published in the Bureau of Investigative Journalism, and STAT News on 25 January.

Rosa Furneaux is an investigative reporter and photojournalist. She reports on global health at the Bureau of Investigative Journalism, with particular focus on access to healthcare. Among other honours, she received the Amnesty International Gaby Rado Award for New Journalist for her coverage of Covid-19 vaccine inequity.

Our judges said: 

It was a thoroughly reported piece on a shocking subject of substandard cancer drugs being used to treat children with leukemia. So many twists and turns to unpick, and bravely reported.

Monthly showcase article: December 2022

Liam Drew's article 'Abandoned - The human cost of neurotechnology failure' has been selected as December 2022's showcase. The article was published in Nature.

Liam Drew is a writer and journalist covering biology and medicine. He is a regular contributor to Nature, and his work has also appeared in Quanta, Aeon, The Guardian, New Scientist and others.

Our judges said:

It was a brilliantly reported piece with such a strong human angle running through it, alongside business and science. 

Monthly showcase article: November 2022

Emily Cornish's article 'Unlocking the mystery of placental disorders and recurrent stillbirths' has been selected as November 2022's showcase. The article was published in the Observer.

This essay also won the Max Perutz science writing award 2022.

Emily Cornish is a clinical research fellow and PhD candidate at University College London 

Monthly showcase article: October 2022

Jane Qiu's column 'Journalistic Objectivity and the Origins of COVID-19: A Dispatch from the Front Lines' has been selected as October 2022's showcase. The column was written for the AAAS Kavli Science Journalism Awards.

Jane Qiu is an award-winning science journalist from Beijing, regularly contributing to publications such as Nature, Science, Scientific American, and The Economist. 

Our judges said: 

Her deep dive into what it means to be objective at a time when responsible science journalism is more crucial than ever was personal, balanced and thought-provoking. A great read for anyone who wants a reminder about what their role as a journalist covering science means, with the heated and often ugly disagreements over the covid-origins story as a backdrop.