Last week I was lamenting the demise of the Royal Society’s science book award. The growth in science literature – fiction or non-fiction – has not been matched with recognisable awards.

Happily AMRC’s Science Communication Awards recognising the very best in charity science communication do live on.

I hope you will visit our – website today. We have published this year’s shortlist. The main event is on 15th March.

I was chuffed to bits that our judging panel last week commented on the very high standard and how it had improved measurably since our last set of awards . They also were kind enough to identify AMRC as an important factor in this.

Charities are upping their game when it comes to science communication . AMRC must too when we consider our next awards. Perhaps we should add a book award.

But for now I take my hat off to those short-listed. Well done and good luck on 15th March.

I write this from a cottage in Cornwall. A few days of leave to write my next bestseller.