A historian from The University of Manchester has been named as one of six authors shortlisted for the 2025 Royal Society Trivedi Science Book Prize, which celebrates the best popular science writing from across the globe.
Vanished: An Unnatural History of Extinction by Professor Sadiah Qureshi was named as one of the finalists at the Edinburgh International Book Festival by author and palaeontologist Steve Brusatte, following an event with the Prize's 2024 winner Kelly Weinersmith.
The Royal Society Science Book Prize has championed non-fiction books that celebrate the collective joy of science writing for more than 30 years. Previous winning titles cover diverse themes, ranging from the sensory experiences of animals to the evolution of all life on earth, and a fresh perspective on human behaviour and relationships.
All of this year's authors make the shortlist for the first time, with books that cover an array of important scientific topics through compelling and accessible storytelling. The shortlisted titles represent the judges' pick of the most fascinating and relevant science writing over the past 12 months.
Professor Qureshi is a writer and historian of science, race and empire. Currently a Chair of Modern British History at the University of Manchester, she has written for the London Review of Books, Times Literary Supplement and New Statesman.
Vanished is a compelling exploration of how the modern concept of extinction has been shaped not just by science but by empire, racism and the politics of disappearance, and it urges us to reckon with extinction as both an evolutionary fate and a deliberate choice.
"This book shows us why science is not a neutral subject - from the human-driven extinction of the dodo to the justification of indigenous peoples being killed based on false racial hierarchy, politics has been woven into scientific decision-making throughout history," said previous prize winner Roma Agrawal, who was on the judging panel. "This is an updated and refreshing perspective of a story we ought to know about. Qureshi's writing is thoroughly readable, while being extremely well researched, opening up a new and important conversation about natural history."
The winner of this year's Prize will be revealed on the evening of 1 October 2025, where they will be presented with a cheque for £25,000. Each of the five shortlisted authors will receive a cheque for £2,500.
