News release from the Royal Society of New Zealand
2 August 2012
Writing Competition Considers The Role Of Science In Our Future
Writers are being invited to submit their thoughts about the contribution of science to the future of New Zealand in
this year’s Royal Society of New Zealand Manhire Prize for Creative Science Writing competition.
This is New Zealand’s only literary award for science writing, and carries cash prizes of $2500 for each of the
non-fiction and fiction categories.
The theme for the 2012 competition is inspired by the late Sir Paul Callaghan who saw the transit of Venus in June as
symbolising a new chapter in New Zealand’s history. His vision was to make this country a place “where talent wants to
live”.
Prize-winning poet and fiction writer, Bill Manhire, after whom the competition is named, says: “The Transit of Venus
Project was started by Sir Paul soon after he became ill in 2008. Paul was passionate in his belief that only science
and scholarship will achieve our desired economic, social and environmental futures. As science was intertwined in the
history of our nation, so it will forge its future. ”
The writing competition has been running since 2007 and aims to encourage exciting science writing. Entries are judged
on their literary merits and how accessible they are to the general public.
Past winners of the competition include Dave Armstrong, Alice Miller and Tina Makereti This year’s judge is Steve
Braunias, author of books and TV series, columnist, journalist and editor.
The Manhire Prize Creative Science Writing competition is a partnership between the Royal Society of New Zealand and the
Institute of Modern Letters at Victoria University.
Entry forms can be found on the Royal Society of New Zealand website. Closing date for entries is 5 October 2012.
An e-book of all past winning entries is available from the Royal Society of New Zealand website.
More information about the prize can be found here http://www.royalsociety.org.nz/programmes/competitions/manhire-prize/2012/
Background information
The Royal Society of New Zealand promotes science, technology and humanities in schools, in industry and in society. We
administer several funds for science and technology, publish science journals, offer advice to Government, and foster
international scientific contact and co-operation.
ENDS