Meet the judges of the 2026 Royal Society Trivedi Science Book Prize
16 June 2026An author, comedian, historian, bookseller, radio presenter and palaeontologist join forces to form one of the most interdisciplinary judging panels to date for the 2026 Royal Society Trivedi Science Book Prize.
Chaired by palaeontologist Professor Mike Benton FRS, this year’s panel brings together multi-award-winning speculative fiction author of Guardian must-read Nudibranch (2024) Irenosen Okojie; stand-up comedian and actor who starred in season 4 of Netflix series Sex Education, Eshaan Akbar; BBC radio science presenter known for hosting Radio 4’s Inside Science and World Service’s Unexpected Elements, Marnie Chesterton; writer, historian, broadcaster and author of Uncivilised: Ten Lies that Made the West, Subhadra Das; and non-fiction range manager at Waterstones, Adeela Badshah.
In a Royal Society Science Book Prize first, the judges will reveal the 2026 shortlist to a live audience on the opening night of the Summer Science Exhibition, the Society’s annual flagship science festival. Chaired by New Scientist’s Alison Flood, four members of the judging panel – Eshaan Akbar, Marnie Chesteron, Subhadra Das and Irenosen Okojie – will delve into the shortlist and give their insider view on what makes great science storytelling.
The free event will be held as part of the adults only Summer Science Lates on Tuesday 30 June 2026, 8.20pm – 9pm. Entry is free and will be on a first-come, first-served basis.
Professor Mike Benton FRS said: “A great science book should appeal to more than just scientists – it should be able to captivate readers from all walks of life. That’s why I am delighted to be among this exceptional group of judges, bringing their unique perspectives from the worlds of books, history, science and comedy. Together, I have no doubt, we will find a shortlist that not only makes science accessible, but that will capture readers’ imaginations and inspire them to look at the world in new ways.”
Founded in 1988, the Prize celebrates the best popular science writing from across the globe, championing non-fiction books that use captivating narratives to open up science to a wider audience and embody the joy of science writing. The Prize is generously supported by the Trivedi Family Foundation.
Recent winners have explored how our sense of identity can be disrupted by neurological disorders (Our Brains, Our Selves by Masud Husain, 2025), flown us to Mars to question whether it would be feasible for humans to settle in space (A City on Mars by Kelly and Zach Weinersmith, 2024), and revealed hidden realms experienced through the unique senses of other animals (An Immense World by Ed Yong, 2023).
The Prize has worked with many eminent judges over its 38-year history, among them Ian McEwan, Terry Pratchett, Monica Ali, Naomi Alderman, David Attenborough, Kate Mosse and Tracy Chevalier.
Ashok Trivedi, President of the Trivedi Family Foundation, said:
“There is nothing more thrilling than discovering how science impacts the world and our lives in previously unexplored ways, whether it’s reading a groundbreaking story or stumbling across a mind-blowing fact for the first time. I for one cannot wait to see what stories are waiting to be uncovered in this year’s shortlist.”