Helen Czerski is shortlisted for the inaugural Unwin Award 2025!

It's fantastic to see Janklow client Helen Czerski shortlisted for the inaugural Unwin Award 2025! Helen, author of BLUE MACHINE, — published by Penguin in 2023 and winner of the 2024 Wainwright Prize for Conservation — has been nominated for the way she uses data to "highlight ocean science literacy and the vital role the seas play in sustaining life".

The Unwin Award is a new, annual literary award administered by The Publishers Association, recognising non-fiction authors in the earlier stages of their careers as authors whose work is considered to have made a significant contribution to the world.

The Unwin Award is intended to champion and showcase the value of the UK publishing industry to the world. The Unwin Award has been made possible following a donation from the Unwin Charitable Trust. Worth £10,000, The Unwin Award will be awarded to the author for their overall body of work, rather than being associated with a specific title.

The award is judged by an independent panel of judges — chaired by professor Shahidha Bari, who is joined by Waterstones non-fiction buyer John Cotterill, as well as social entrepreneur and author Anne-Marie Imafidon MBE — with the winner announced at a ceremony in April. You can read about the remainder of the shortlist here. 

Congratulations, Helen and good luck! 🏆