Child scoops top science award

The Times reporter Katharine Child last night won first prize at the Profile Awards for science and technology journalism.

Judges praised Child for the way she "tackles quackery", helping readers to see the difference between real and pseudo-science.

The judges noted that Child had a particularly difficult task writing for a younger audience on a newspaper that produces shorter, "spicier" stories.

Winners of the awards, now in their 14th year and supported by Siemens, were announced at Wits University.

The runners up were Elsabé Brits (Die Burger), Sarah Wild (Mail & Guardian), Tamar Kahn (Business Day) and John Yeld (Cape Argus).