In keeping with the Society’s concern to communicate history of science to broad audiences, the 2021 Hughes Prize (formally the Dingle Prize) will be offered for the best book in the history of science, technology, and medicine, first published in English in 2019 or 2020, which is accessible to a wide audience of non-specialists. The 2019 Prize was won by James Delbourgo for his book Collecting the World: Hans Sloane and the Origins of the British Museum (London: Penguin, 2017). The BSHS is delighted that the judging panel will be chaired Prof Matthew Cobb (The University of Manchester).
The winning book should present some aspect of the field in an engaging and comprehensible manner and should also show proper regard for historical methods and the results of historical research: for example, it might re-examine a well-known historical incident or achievement, or bring new perspective to previously neglected figures or fields in the past.
The value of the Hughes Prize is £300. The winner will also have the opportunity to give a public lecture, organised by the BSHS, on the subject of their book.
The Prize was established in 1997 to mark the fiftieth anniversary of the Society, and was named after the mathematician, astronomer and philosopher of science Herbert Dingle, a founder member of the BSHS. It was renamed in 2019 in memory of former BSHS President Jeff Hughes. More information about the prize, including details of past winners, is available at http://www.bshs.org.uk/prizes/dingle-prize.
Nominations for the Prize are invited from both individuals and publishers. The nominations must be available as printed books. Please include full publication details with the nominations.
Please register your nominations for the prize using the electronic form that can be found here. Please note the form allows up to three nominations at a time, but there is no limit on the number of nominations an individual or organisation can make. Please reuse the form as appropriate. Nominations should be made no later than 23:59 on 31 January 2020.