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Ed Yong (Edmund Soon-Weng Yong)

エド ヨン（エドマンド スーンウェン ヨン）

Ed Yong (Edmund Soon-Weng Yong)

Profile

Gender
Male
Born
1981-12-17 （Malaysia）
Nationality
British, Malaysian
Languages
English
Residence History
United Kingdom (moved in 1994) → Washington, D.C. (lived until May 2023) → Oakland, California (since May 2023)

Career

Occupations
science journalist, author
Active Years
2005-
Affiliations
The Atlantic (former), National Geographic (Phenomena blog network, former)

Education

Pembroke College, University of Cambridge
Natural Sciences / Zoology
Degree: BA (promoted to MA per tradition)
Period: 1999–2002
Year of Graduation: 2002
Country: United Kingdom
Studied Natural Sciences (Zoology). BA later promoted to MA by tradition.
University College London (UCL)
Graduate studies (Biochemistry) / Biochemistry
Degree: MPhil
Period: 2003–2005
Year of Graduation: 2005
Country: United Kingdom
MPhil thesis: Searching for the human resolvase (2005)

Awards

Pulitzer Prize for Explanatory Reporting
2021
Work: Series on the COVID-19 pandemic
Organization: Pulitzer Prize Board
Result: Winner
Victor Cohn Prize for Excellence in Medical Science Reporting
2020
Work: Reporting on COVID-19 and medical science reporting generally
Organization: Council for the Advancement of Science Writing
Result: Winner
Andrew Carnegie Medal for Excellence in Nonfiction
2022
Work: An Immense World: How Animal Senses Reveal the Hidden Realms Around Us
Organization: Andrew Carnegie Medals
Result: Winner
Royal Society Trivedi Science Book Prize
2023
Work: An Immense World
Organization: The Royal Society
Result: Winner
National Academies Communication Award
2010
Work: Online journalism (Not Exactly Rocket Science, etc.)
Organization: National Academy of Sciences
Result: Winner
NUJ Stephen White Award
2012
Work: Science journalism
Organization: National Union of Journalists
Result: Winner
Association of British Science Writers Best Science Blog
2014
Work: Not Exactly Rocket Science (blog)
Organization: Association of British Science Writers
Result: Winner

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

I Contain Multitudes: The Microbes Within Us and a Grander View of Life

2016 Non-fiction / Popular science

Explores the ubiquity of microbes and the relationships between microbes and animals, presented for a general audience.

microbiologysymbiosisecology

An Immense World: How Animal Senses Reveal the Hidden Realms Around Us

2022 Non-fiction / Animal perception

Delves into animal senses and perceptions, revealing worlds hidden from human senses.

perceptionanimal cognitionsensory biology

Bibliography

  • Not Exactly Rocket Science. Lulu Press. 2008.
  • I Contain Multitudes. Random House. 2016.
  • An Immense World. Random House. 2022.

Style & Themes

Literary Style
clear, explanatory prosenarrative-driven science writing
Recurring Motifs
microbes and lifeextension of senses and perceptioninteractions among organisms

Legacy

Ed Yong is regarded as a leading figure in popular science journalism. With multiple awards and influential books and reporting—particularly on COVID-19 and animal perception—he has bridged academic research and general audiences.

Trivia

  • Moved from Malaysia to the UK at age 13 in 1994.
  • Spouse is science communicator Liz Neeley.
  • Gained recognition with the blog 'Not Exactly Rocket Science' and wrote for National Geographic's Phenomena network.
  • Won the 2021 Pulitzer Prize for Explanatory Reporting for a series on COVID-19.
  • Moved from Washington, D.C. to Oakland, California in 2023.