From the tales of mystery illness that science has struggled to explain, to the flaws and the frauds who have undermined our knowledge of the world, each of these must-read books offers a new perspective on an important topic.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis year\u2019s shortlist reflects more than ever the huge strength and diversity of topics evident in science writing,\u201d said the chair of the 2021 judging panel, Professor Luke O\u2019Neill, at Trinity College Dublin, Ireland.<\/p>\n
\u201cEvery book is very accessible to all, and each in its own way is quite remarkable\u2026 Each is important and compelling, conveying the wonder of science but also highlighting issues that we should all be concerned about. Important, accessible science writing is certainly alive and well with this enthralling list of titles.\u201d<\/p>\n
The winner of the\u00a02021 Royal Society Science Book Prize<\/a>, sponsored by Insight Investment, will be chosen by a panel of five judges and revealed at a ceremony in London on 29 November.<\/p>\n Like last year\u2019s winner Dr Camilla Pang<\/a>, the winner of the 2021 prize will receive a cheque for \u00a325,000, with \u00a32,500 awarded to each of the five shortlisted authors.<\/p>\n Emily Levesque<\/strong><\/p>\n Emily Levesque, an astronomy professor at the University of Washington, has been through it all: striving to see stars despite sub-zero temperatures, handling equipment worth millions, and fighting for her place as a woman in the field. This is the life of an astronomer as untold by Brian Cox\u2019s latest BBC documentary<\/a> (though we do recommend you watch it!).<\/p>\n But now, we sit at the precipice of a new way of observing the stars \u2013 through robots, instead of our own eyes \u2013 and that has consequences across the sciences.<\/p>\n In The Last Stargazers<\/em>, Levesque asks us all to think about our relationship with the Universe, and to warn against casting aside that childlike sense of wonder for things closer to home.<\/p>\n This book is featured in our list of the best space and astronomy books<\/a>.<\/p>\nThe 2021 Royal Society Book Prize Shortlist<\/h2>\n
The Last Stargazers: The Enduring Story of Astronomy\u2019s Vanishing Explorers<\/h3>\n
![\""Cover\"](\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/4\/2021\/10\/The-Last-Stargazers-cover-14058ca.jpg?quality=90&resize=210%2C315"\" "\\"\"The\\"")
<\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>\n