Dinosaur expert, illustrator and neuroscientist join forces to judge 2025 Royal Society Young People’s Book Prize

Hollywood science advisor, dinosaur expert, and author of The Rise and Fall of the Dinosaurs, Professor Steve Brusatte, and award-winning children’s author and illustrator, Helen Cooper, have joined the shortlisting panel for the 2025 Royal Society Young People’s Book Prize, an annual celebration of the best science books for under-14s.

Joining them are primary school teacher and science lead, Vicky Walsh, and Dr Betina Ip, a Royal Society Dorothy Hodgkin Fellow who studies how the brain creates our sense of vision. The panel will be chaired by Professor Tamsin Mather FRS, a volcano expert and author of Adventures in Volcanoland.

Together, these five judges face the challenge of narrowing down a longlist of more than 40 titles to a shortlist of just six books. These shortlisted titles will be sent to hundreds of schools, libraries and youth groups across the UK, where young readers will take the lead in choosing the overall winner.

Chair of the judging panel, Professor Tamsin Mather FRS, said:

“I am thrilled to be chairing the shortlisting panel for this year’s Young People’s Book Prize. Inspiring and supporting the next generation of thinkers is one of the most important roles of the Royal Society and this book prize exemplifies this mission. We’ve got a fantastic range of voices on the panel, from authors and illustrators to scientists and teachers, each bringing a unique perspective on science books aimed at a young audience – definitely a recipe for lively discussions!

“But the real experts are the young readers themselves, and one of the things that excites me most about this prize is that it’s down to them to pick their winner. They know best about what inspires and excites and I cannot wait to hear what they have to say.”

For over 35 years, the prize has celebrated the very best science books aimed at readers under 14, helping to spark curiosity and a lifelong interest in science. Past judges have included broadcaster Gabby Logan and beloved children’s author Michael Rosen. In 2024, over 4500 books were distributed to schools as part of the judging process, supporting access to high-quality science writing in classrooms and libraries across the country.

The shortlist for the 2025 prize will be announced on 19 November 2025, with the winner announced at a ceremony in April 2026.