Science Meets Storytelling: Three Writers Win Big for Blending Worlds

Three writers have just won $10, 000 each for their unique ability to mix science and storytelling. The National Book Foundation and the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation handed out these awards to celebrate books that make science feel as exciting as a good story. The winners are Kimberly Blaeser, Anna North, and Patricia Ononiwu Kaishian. Blaeser’s poetry collection, \"Ancient Light, \" draws inspiration from the environmental damage affecting Indigenous communities. North’s novel, \"Bog Queen, \" follows a forensic anthropologist and a 2000-year-old Celtic druid. Kaishian’s nonfiction work, \"Forest Euphoria: The Abounding Queerness of Nature, \" explores the natural world in a fresh way.Doron Weber, vice president at the Sloan Foundation, praised the winners for their ability to blend science and poetry. He said their work helps us understand nature and ourselves better. Ruth Dickey, executive director of the National Book Foundation, added that these books challenge and engage readers everywhere. The National Book Foundation is known for the prestigious National Book Awards. The Sloan Foundation has a history of supporting books that combine science and the humanities. One famous example is \"American Prometheus, \" which won a Pulitzer Prize and was adapted into the movie \"Oppenheimer. \" Daisy Hernández, chair of the awards committee, emphasized the importance of these books. She said they are especially important now, when science is often misunderstood or attacked. These books show how literature and science can work together to create something amazing.