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Food historian Professor Rebecca Earle to Chair British Academy Book Prize 2025 and Professor Shadreck Chirikure joins panel of judges
15 Jan 2025

The food historian Professor Rebecca Earle FBA is announced as the new Chair of judges of the British Academy Book Prize as the 2025 cycle opens for submissions today, Wednesday 15 January.
Rebecca Earle, who is Professor of History at the University of Warwick, is joined by a distinguished panel of judges, all experts in their fields. Joining for 2025 is Professor Shadreck Chirikure FBA, Archaeological Scientist, Edward Hall Professor of Archaeological Science, University of Oxford. Completing the panel – and serving for a second year – are the broadcaster and former BBC foreign correspondent Bridget Kendall FBA (Hon); the journalist and broadcaster Ritula Shah; and Professor Chakravarthi Ram-Prasad FBA, Distinguished Professor of Comparative Religion and Philosophy at Lancaster University.
The British Academy’s £25,000 international prize rewards works of non-fiction, based on exceptional research and written for the general reader, that deepen understanding of people, societies and cultures and their interactions across time and place.
Professor Rebecca Earle comments: “It is an honour to take up the position of Chair of the British Academy Book Prize. It is also a pleasure to welcome Professor Shadreck Chirikure as our new judge. His expertise will enrich a panel whose knowledge spans across the humanities, social sciences and international affairs. At a time when misinformation and mistrust threaten our world we must not underestimate the value of well-researched books. They can help us see the world in a new light, offer perspectives we had not considered, and uncover truths that both challenge and deepen our ideas and views. Our panel look forward to reading many excellent books in the coming months.”
The judges will select a shortlist of up to six books to be announced in September, and the winner will be announced in October. The winner will receive £25,000 and each of the shortlisted authors £1,000.
Submissions are open from today, Wednesday 15 January. The deadline for submissions is Thursday 28 February 2025.
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