Well-known poet and visual artist Jacqui Malins is the open category winner of MARION Ink’s Science + Storytelling Prize for her poetry-film script for Lutruwita.

In the same category, runner-up was Sarah Kellett for her short story, Ferns and Fever Trees.

Responding to the 2025 National Science Week theme, Decoding the Universe – Exploring the Unknown with Nature’s Hidden Language, writers submitted short works in essay form, poetry, short stories or hybrid writing, many of which judge Olivia Congdon said: “Engaged deeply with science and nature in wonderfully creative ways — offering a unique insight into how these writers see the world.”

Winner in the 65+ category was Ian Hart for his short story, Anchovies, while the runners-up were Denise Fowler for her essay Learning the Language of Birds and Michelle Brock for her poem, Happenstance.

Winner in the youth category was Annabelle Evans for the poem, Hunger, with Ruby Hulme’s short story Innocent Eyes announced as runner-up.

The winners each received $400, while runners up won $200 each.