The 2022 Bragg Prize was awarded to Lauren Fuge for her essay “Time Journey and Tipping Factors”, which explores our geological understanding of time – and the way it may assist us perceive our future.
The essay will probably be printed alongside the 30 shortlisted entries for the award in Australia’s Greatest Science Writing 2022NewSouth’s annual assortment that includes the perfect Australian scientific writing of the yr.
“I’m delighted to win the Bragg Prize. My most urgent job as a author is to search out new and alternative ways to inform tales in regards to the local weather disaster, so it means so much for this essay to be acknowledged on this manner, as a result of it means one thing is working” , stated Ms. Fuge.
Ms. Fuge’s story weaves her private introspection with Earth’s geological historical past to look at what plate tectonics analysis has revealed about Earth’s previous evolution and local weather, and the way this understanding of deep time can contextualize the tempo and magnitude of change we’re at present seeing.
The story transports us to the Flinders Ranges outdoors Adelaide, the place it travels by way of historic mountain ranges to see the transitions between previous geological durations embedded in rock.
“Throughout the first yr of the pandemic, I spent a number of weeks tenting and mountain climbing within the Flinders Ranges. I shortly grew to become obsessive about how I might study to learn the reminiscence of a panorama. I’ve seen geological proof of Snowball Earth as glaciers blanketed the planet, visited the golden tip marking a dramatic shift between strata, and ran my fingers over sandstone fossils of the primary complicated animals on Earth. I started to ascend to the precipice of deep time and gaze upon the abyss of planetary historical past,” Ms Fuge stated.
“I additionally spent plenty of time with the elders of Adnyamathanha, whose individuals have inhabited the world for over 49,000 years. Because of them, I discovered a special manner of seeing the earth: not as one thing we stroll on or personal, however as one thing we inevitably are part of, one thing to which we belong – the place individuals and the earth frequently collaborate within the creation of the opposite.
“I hope this essay invitations readers to suppose extra deeply about how our species urgently wants to alter our relationship with the Earth.”
Ms. Fuge is a science author at present engaged on a non-fiction narrative e book on human exploration and the Anthropocene. She can be endeavor a PhD in inventive writing on how we inform tales about local weather change. She was beforehand a journalist at Cosmos journal.
Science journalist Dr Norman Swan gave the welcome speech on the launch of this yr’s version of The Greatest Australian Science Writingedited by Ivy Shih, whereas UNSW Dean of Science Professor Sven Rogge offered the 2022 Bragg Prizes.
Professor Sven Rogge congratulated Ms Fuge on receiving the Bragg Prize.
“Lauren’s essay is fascinating! She has successfully built-in her geological data and expertise right into a compelling story that grabs our consideration from the beginning. It is an actual ability to have the ability to write a narrative in regards to the complexities of science and Lauren did it brilliantly.
Dr Norman Swan wrote the foreword to The Greatest Australian Science Scripting this yr. He’s pictured right here with UNSW Dean of Science Sven Rogge. Picture: Cassandra Hannagan.
Helen Sullivan and Olivia Willis have been introduced finalists for the 2022 Bragg Prize.
“A Syrian Seed Financial institution’s Battle for Survival,” written by Ms. Sullivan, paperwork the dedication of scientists to saving a seed financial institution in Syria, on the threat of their lives. These seeds embody not solely the fragility of science on the mercy of society, however maybe our salvation – vegetation that may thrive in a altering local weather.
Read more “Bragg Prize winner tells story of overpopulation in space”
Ms. Willis’ story, ‘Spillover in suburbia’, compels us to place COVID-19 apart for a second by sharing the origins of the Hendra virus. It tells how a fancy community of scientists and veterinarians appearing as front-line “sentinels” may help us be vigilant for the following illness outbreak.
The UNSW Press Bragg Prize for Science Writing is an annual award for the perfect science nonfiction quick movie written for common audiences. It’s named in honor of Australia’s first Nobel laureates, William Henry Bragg and his son William Lawrence Bragg.
The Bragg Prize winner receives $7,000 and the 2 runners-up every obtain a $1,500 prize. The awards and related occasions are supported by the Copyright Company Cultural Fund and UNSW Science.
The Greatest Australian Science Writing anthology
This yr the Greatest Australian Science Writing anthology and the UNSW Press Bragg Prize for Science Writing attracted greater than 250 nominations from scientists, journalists, writers and poets.
The extremely acclaimed anthology, now in its twelfth yr – and with a foreword by Dr Norman Swan – showcases the extraordinary breadth, depth and creativity of Australian science writers.
The e book and awards assist UNSW’s technique to tell public debate on points that straight affect the neighborhood.
UNSW Bragg Scholar Award
The UNSW Bragg Scholar Prize celebrates excellence in science writing by Australian secondary faculty college students in grades 7-10 and is supported by UNSW Press together with Refraction Media.
The 2022 Bragg Scholar Prize was gained by Olivia Campbell, a scholar at PLC in Melbourne. Olivia’s essay titled “Viral Science” highlights the vital function of science and scientific data as we speak.
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