The PET Team invited friends and colleagues to join us for an evening of celebration - to recognise the winners of the Marcus Pembrey BioNews Writing Prize 2026.
The challenge to all the young writers (18-35) was to write a comment piece on 'What do you think the impact of AI will be on fertility treatment or genomics or embryo/stem cell research?' - no help from AI allowed.
First, we heard from an expert panel of speakers who brought context to just how important accurate, impartial and engaging science writing is, and continues to be. This included Dr Roger Highfield (Science Museum's Science Director), Professor Nick Macklon (Medical Director of the London Women's Clinic), Fiona Fox (Former PET Chair of Trustees and Founder and CEO of the Science Media Centre, and PET Chair of Trustees Professor Robin Lovell-Badge.
Roger and Nick along with former BioNews editors Professor Kirsty Horsey and Dr Jess Buxton had judged the entries. Everyone agreed that the standard was extremely high and the decision was not an easy one. The worthy winners were:
1st - Katharina Stock (pictured with Sarah and Nick)
2nd - Dr Kate Sheridan Clay
3rd - Guy Davies
You will be able to read all the winning articles, in full, in a future edition of BioNews.
Huge congratulations to the winners and to everyone who took part. And a massive thank you to the London Women's Clinic for making this special event possible.