In the age of short attention spans and clickbait headlines, long-form journalism and thought pieces remain effective ways to inform, provoke and challenge readers. And, while writing these takes time and requires a deep understanding of a subject, the results can be profound. A case in point: this year, University of Sydney academics picked up four prestigious Eureka Prizes at the annual celebration of Australia’s ‘science Oscars’.
The prize is awarded each month to an outstanding piece of journalism published during the previous month, either in print or online. Anyone can nominate a story or writer by the last day of each month. The winner receives a $500 honorarium and a certificate designed by New Yorker cartoonist Edward Sorel. Nominations are accepted for one’s own work or someone else’s and can be made by email or post.
Since 1985, the Sydney Taylor Book Award Committee has also designated a list of Notable Books (originally called the Best of the Bunch) that, while not selected as winners of either category, were deemed worthy of public attention. The Notable Books list is publicized each year at the same time as the winner lists in both the Younger and Older Readers categories.
Dedicated to fostering and celebrating the work of writers, thinkers and scholars in the field of history of science, technology and society, this biennial international literary prize is a recognition of exceptional scholarship for general as well as specialist audiences. It is named in honour of Australian scientist, inventor and historian Sidney Hook. The Sydney Hook Memorial Award is funded by a bequest from Emilie Ann Consett Stephens.
The Neilma Sidney Short Story Prize, sponsored by Overland Magazine and the Malcolm Robertson Foundation, recognises outstanding stories written around travel themes. The first place winner will receive $5000 and two runners-up will be rewarded $750 each. The winning entry will be published in Overland magazine’s autumn 2024 edition, with the runners-up stories being published online.
Each year, the Sydney Peace Prize honours leading global voices who promote peace with justice and nonviolence – past recipients include Archbishop Desmond Tutu and Mary Robinson. The award is presented at a ceremony at Sydney Town Hall.
The Sidney Edelstein Prize recognizes an outstanding scholarly book on the history of technology, intended for generalist as well as specialized audiences. It is named in honour of Sidney Edelstein, a pioneer in the development of dyes and the founder of Dexter Chemical Corporation. The prize was established in 1968 and is administered by the American Historical Association. The Joan Cahalin Robinson Prize was established in 1999 to honour an outstanding graduate student or early career scholar presenting at the SHOT annual meeting for the first time. The prize is sponsored by the Applied Sciences Division of the National Academy of Sciences and the John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Fellowship.
