Science Systems
National Academies Announce 2024 Recipients of Eric and Wendy Schmidt Awards for Excellence in Science Communications
Schmidt Sciences | Oct 24, 2024
WASHINGTON — The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine announced today this year’s recipients of the Eric and Wendy Schmidt Awards for Excellence in Science Communications, given by the National Academies in partnership with Schmidt Sciences. These prestigious awards recognize science journalists, research scientists, and science communicators who have developed creative, original work to communicate issues and advances in science, engineering, and medicine to the general public.
A total of 24 awards, split among eight categories, were announced — nine awards for science communication by research scientists, nine awards for science journalists, and six awards for science communicators. In each category, one $40,000 top prize and two $20,000 awards were given, totaling $640,000.
The winners will be honored during an invitation-only workshop and recognition event taking place Dec. 4-6, 2024, in Pasadena, California.
“I am honored to express congratulations from the awards committee and jury to the 2024 winners,” said selection committee chair Leah H. Jamieson, a member of the National Academy of Engineering and Ransburg Distinguished Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering and Dean Emerita of Engineering at Purdue University. “Science, medicine, and engineering play critical roles in the lives of people around the globe and affect the very health of our planet. We are therefore deeply indebted to the communicators who are being recognized with these awards, and are in awe of the creativity, passion, clarity, and commitment they bring to public understanding of a world where these fields are part of our lives every day. We are proud to know that these recognitions will play a role in shaping the futures of our winners — and the futures of all who are informed, provoked, and inspired by their work. We look forward to the work that the winners will do in the future!”
“Science makes our modern world possible, fueling advances that we all depend upon to lead healthy, productive lives,” said National Academy of Sciences President Marcia McNutt. “Yet all too often, scientific knowledge and discovery feel distant or inaccessible to many people. These gifted award winners welcome everyone into science through their works, employing powerful storytelling, compelling insights, and humor to engage our imaginations and stir our hearts.”
“As scientific knowledge grows deeper, and communication comes at us faster, science communicators help us slow down and understand our world better,” said Wendy Schmidt, co-founder of Schmidt Sciences. “The writers, podcasters, filmmakers, and other storytellers honored with this year’s awards share a remarkable — and exclusively human — ability to cut through the noise, teach us, and demonstrate how deeply connected we all are to each other and the world around us.”
Chosen by the selection committee from nearly 600 entries for works published or aired in 2023, the recipients are:
Science Journalist: Freelancer
Top Prize Winner:
Sarah Scoles for
- “Behind the Scenes at a US Factory Building New Nuclear Bombs” (Scientific American)
- “Nuclear War Could End the World, but What if It’s All in Our Heads?” (The New York Times)
- “Trust but Verify” (Science)
Sarah Scoles brings attention to an often overlooked but critical area of science and policy with clear, in-depth reporting and an elegant writing style. Her coverage of nuclear weapons, including articles on the psychology and neuroscience of nuclear decision-making, construction of plutonium pits, and computer modeling for weapon verification, make complex and yet very contemporary topics accessible to a general audience. Scoles successfully navigates through difficult, thorny issues and does so with consistent excellence.
Winners:
Science Journalist: Early Career
Top Prize Winner:
Zack Savitsky for
- “The Quantum Phantom” (Science)
- “In a Fierce Desert, Microbe ‘Crusts’ Show How Life Tamed the Land” (Quanta Magazine)
- “Lifting the Veil” (Science)
Zack Savitsky’s excitement jumps off the page as he seeks to answer some of humanity’s most profound questions, such as how life started on Earth, whether we’re alone in the universe, and how we can wield nature to our will. By combining scientific discovery with personal stories, he weaves together captivating narratives with informative science content, making his work widely accessible. Savitsky’s writing is brilliant, intriguing, and deeply memorable.
Winners:
Jackie Mogensen, Mother Jones
Science Journalist: Local/Regional
Top Prize Winner:
Clare Fieseler, POLITICO / E&E News, for
- “They couldn’t get pregnant. No one told them their ovaries held ‘forever chemicals.’” (The Post and Courier, Charleston, South Carolina)
- “A Confederate monument, a Union fort and a sea rising” (The Post and Courier, Charleston, South Carolina)
- “Lithium is driving the clean car revolution. Will the South pay a price?” (The Post and Courier, Charleston, South Carolina)
Clare Fieseler’s reporting links past to present and environmental to personal, while calling for accountability in the community. Her local reporting is deeply rooted and original with fascinating deep dives of conflicts between science and ethics that have real-world impacts. Spanning a wide range of topics, Fieseler tells strong, well‐written stories that are clear in their science and moving in their humanity.
Winners:
Miguel Dobrich, Amenaza Roboto
Mike Tony, Charleston Gazette-Mail
Research Scientist: Graduate Student
Top Prize Winner:
Grace Huckins, Stanford University, for
- “Machines Like Us: Philosophers, cognitive scientists, and engineers are grappling with what it would take for AI to become conscious” (MIT Technology Review)
- “Trans People’s Mental Health Is Being Weaponized Against Them” (WIRED)
- “New Alzheimer’s Drugs Offer Subtle Benefits—With Real Risks” (WIRED)
Grace Huckins effectively combines innovative scientific approaches with accessible communication methods to tackle some of the most critical issues of our time. Their well-reported and compelling articles on complex topics like AI consciousness, mental health in the trans community, and Alzheimer’s drug research demonstrate their versatility in science writing across diverse subjects, and their ability to communicate ethics in technology, medicine, and human decision-making is a testament to their talent and skill.
Winners:
Claire Lamman, Harvard University & Smithsonian
Rudy Molinek, University of Wisconsin-Madison
Research Scientist: Early Career
Top Prize Winner:
Sanjana Curtis, University of Chicago and University of California, Berkeley, for
- “How Star Collisions Forge the Universe’s Heaviest Elements” (Scientific American)
- “Some of Earth’s Most Famous Art Started with Stardust” (Scientific American)
- “Stardust!” (TikTok)
Sanjana Curtis makes complex astrophysics concepts accessible and interesting through both her writing and video creation. Her ability to connect art and astrophysics, explain the cosmic origins of heavy metals, and her ambitious project linking various scientific disciplines to the basis of elements of the periodic table exemplify her uniquely innovative and effective approach to science communication.
Winners:
Imari Walker-Franklin, RTI International
Sofia Castelló y Tickell, Royal Holloway, University of London
Research Scientist: Later Career
Top Prize Winner:
- Marshall Shepherd, University of Georgia, for
- The Weather Channel’s Weather Geeks Podcast, “Enshrining NOAA Into Law” (The Weather Channel)
- “3 Reasons Why Hurricane Lee Is Stunning Meteorologists” (Forbes Media LLC)
- “Cloudy with a Chance of Science” (Carnegie Science, YouTube)
- Marshall Shepherd is a skilled communicator who eloquently explains complicated scientific concepts in meteorology and climate science. His engaging speaking style, use of relatable analogies, and ability to combine important scientific issues with personal reflection and humor make his work especially approachable and unique.
Winners:
Andrew Luttrell, Ball State University
Brandon Ogbunu, Yale University
Science Communicator: Independent
Top Prize Winner:
Kyne Santos for
- “Onlinekyne” (Kyne Santos)
- “Think Queen” (Entertainment One)
Kyne Santos, a world-renowned drag queen and math communicator, is recognized for her innovative and inclusive approach to science communication. Her use of vibrant visuals and storytelling make mathematical concepts accessible and engaging, particularly for underrepresented groups in STEM, and her multimedia content challenges stereotypes and promotes inclusivity in STEM fields. Santos is creative, easy to understand, engaging, and a deeply needed presence in the world of science communication.
Winners:
Science Communicator: Organizational
Top Prize Winner:
Sapna Parikh, University of California, San Diego, for
- “Inside the Largest Outdoor Earthquake Simulator in the World” (University of California, San Diego)
- “Why are Scientists Dyeing the Ocean Pink?” (Scripps Institution of Oceanography/ University of California, San Diego)
- “6G and the Future of Wireless Tech” (New York University)
Sapna Parikh, a science communicator at the University of California, San Diego, is pushing the boundaries of what university-based science communicators can do. Her videos on topics like earthquake simulation, oceanography, and 6G technology are praised for their clear presentation and engaging style. Her work is consumable, interesting, and high quality, with a great on-camera presence from Parikh herself.
Winners:
Ranjini Raghunath, Indian Institute of Science (IISc)
Samantha Jones, American Chemical Society
The National Academies’ Eric and Wendy Schmidt Awards for Excellence in Science Communications were created to increase the quality of science communication by recognizing outstanding science communication among research scientists, science journalists, and science communicators and creating opportunities for science journalists to make connections and pursue stories at the national, regional, and local levels. For more information on the awards and the work of this year’s recipients, please visit https://www.nationalacademies.org/awards/excellence-in-communication.
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About the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine
The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine are private, nonprofit institutions that provide independent, objective analysis and advice to the nation to solve complex problems and inform public policy decisions related to science, engineering, and medicine. They operate under an 1863 congressional charter to the National Academy of Sciences, signed by President Lincoln.
About Schmidt Sciences
Schmidt Sciences is a philanthropy dedicated to fostering the advancements of science and technology that accelerate and deepen our understanding of the natural world and develop solutions to global issues. To learn more, please visit SchmidtSciences.org.
Contact:
Olivia Hamilton, Communications Specialist
National Academies’ Office of News and Public Information
202-334-3953; email ohamilton@nas.edu