We’re delighted to announce that The Conversation Prize for writers is back for another year.
This annual competition invites academics and researchers to bring their work to life for a wider audience. It’s an opportunity to turn your research, expertise and insights into a compelling longform story that also has the potential to be developed into a bestselling nonfiction book. Whether you’re exploring new findings, re-examining established ideas, or sharing unique perspectives from your field, the prize celebrates clear, engaging writing that connects specialist knowledge with the world beyond academia.
In addition to a £1,000 prize for the winning article and online publication with The Conversation Insights, our partners Faber and The Curtis Brown Group will again be offering mentorship to develop your book from a book editor and a literary agent.
In 2025, Brian Thornton won for his powerful article and book pitch on the systemic issues perpetuating miscarriages of justice. He said:
The Conversation Prize is an amazing opportunity to raise the profile of your research and access new audiences for your work. The support from the lovely people at Curtis Brown and Faber was amazing – they gave me fantastic practical advice on how to develop my work. If you’ve got an interesting idea, a new angle or a piece of research that deserves to be more widely known, this is the competition for you.
Yvonne Reddick, reader in English literature and creative writing at the University of Central Lancashire, and a runner up in the competition for Mountains of Fire – her moving account of what hillwalking with her father taught her about the origins of oil exploration – said:
Entering the writers’ prize was life-changing. I met my agents, Sabhbh Curran and Elliot Prior, and they have helped me to shape the project I know I was born to write. Sharing our research with a wide audience is increasingly important given today’s focus on impact, engagement and knowledge exchange – but the prize also brings the utter joy of sharing your work in The Conversation and beyond.
Nicholas Carter, lecturer in physical geography at the University of Oxford, and a runner up in the competition for his article on how lichens are bringing stones to life, said:
The writers’ prize proved pivotal in securing me both wonderful representation and a book deal for ‘Living Stone’ with Penguin Viking, while opening doors to other work opportunities along the way.
Submissions will be in the form of a 2,000-word article written for a non-academic audience and in the following subject areas: History, Arts + Culture, Business + Economy, Education, Environment, Health, Politics + Society, Science + Technology or World. As part of your submission, we’d also like you to include an idea for a trade nonfiction book on your article subject. Please pitch your proposed book idea in 350 words or less and explain why you’re the right person to write this book.
The competition will close on Sunday 5th July at 11.59pm BST.
To enter, please email your 2,000-word article, plus the following information, to uk-prize@theconversation.com:
Name
Institution
Country
Telephone no.
Your book idea [max 350 words] Please provide a brief summary of a trade nonfiction book idea based on your article. Tell us why this topic deserves a deeper dive and why it would appeal to an audience of non-academic readers.
About you [max 100 words] Tell us a little about you – your current role, your area of expertise and any relevant research to your book idea. Why would you be the right author for this book?
Please disclose any conflicts of interest that should be mentioned in relation to your article or book idea.
Terms & Conditions 2026 [Pdf] – please read carefully.
You can find out more about what we’re looking for here [Pdf].
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