The Best Australian Science Writing 2017 - Michael Slezak

Would it be ethical to eat sentient aliens? What is the basis of the difference between the sexes? Why is there something rather than nothing? Is there any hope for the Great Barrier Reef or Tasmanian forests in a warming climate? Were Aboriginal Australians the world's first astronomers?Now in its seventh year, The Best Australian Science Writing 2017 draws on the knowledge and insight of Australia's brightest thinkers to challenge perceptions of the world we think we know.With a foreword by Professor Emma Johnston, UNSW Dean of Science, this year's selection includes the best of Australia's science writing talent: Alice Gorman, Jo Chandler, Elmo Keep, James Mitchell Crow, Peter Singer, Bianca Nogrady, Ray Norris, Elle Hunt, James Bradley, and many more.Sales Points:The 'Best Australian' format has become a 'brand' of lively, engaging, rigorous writing.Edited by Michael Slezak, a highly respected science journalist, currently Guardian Australia's science and environment reporter. He will be a keen promoter and is active on Twitter with more than 5000 followers.Foreword by Professor Emma Johnston, UNSW Dean of Science.Contributors include established authors and new voices, such as Jo Chandler, Peter Singer, Bianca Nogrady, Alice Gorman, Elmo Keep, James Mitchell Crow, Ray Norris, Elle Hunt and James Bradley.Features the Bragg Prize winners and the prize has built its own reputation over the past couple of years, generating a lot of enthusiasm across many media outlets where science writers publish their work. (The anthology doesn't reveal who the winners are: winners will be announced at a separate event.)Launch will coincide with the awarding of the Bragg Prizes in November 2017, in collaboration with the UNSW Faculty of Science.For the third year running we will also announce the winner of the UNSW Bragg Student Prize for Science Writing at the launch event.