2021 - All Press Releases

Nomination period now open for the 2021 John Maddox Prize for Standing up for Science

Researchers who have shown great courage and integrity in standing up for science and scientific reasoning can be nominated until 14 June 2021  

London, 6 April 2021

The John Maddox Prize 2021,  is now accepting nominations of individuals who have played an important role in promoting sound science on a matter of public interest, facing difficulty or hostility in doing so. Now in its tenth year, The John Maddox Prize is a joint initiative between the charity Sense about Science and the journal Nature, published by Springer Nature. The prize advocates for the value of an open and honest environment for societies to discuss scientific evidence. Each year one or two winners are selected by an independent judging panel. An additional award is also made to someone who is at an early stage of their career. 

This prize commemorates Sir John Maddox, who was a passionate and tireless communicator, a defender of science, and a writer and editor at Nature for 22 years. Sir John engaged with difficult debates and encouraged others to do the same. The winner of the John Maddox Prize receives £3000, and the award is presented at a reception hosted at Wellcome Collection later in the year. 

Previous winners include Anthony Fauci and Salim Abdool Karim (2020), Bambang Hero Sahargo (2019), Terry Hughes (2018), Riko Muranaka (2017) and Elizabeth Loftus (2016). For details of all previous winners please see here

Information about the nomination criteria and judgement process is available here

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About Sense about Science

Sense about Science is an independent charity that works to ensure the public interest in sound science and evidence is recognised in public life and policy making. A small team working with thousands of supporters, from world leading researchers to community groups, we focus on socially and scientifically difficult issues where evidence is neglected, politicised or misleading. www.senseaboutscience.org

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