Submission Period for the 2024 Eric and Wendy Schmidt Awards for Excellence in Science Communications Now Open

WASHINGTON — Submissions are now being accepted for the 2024 Eric and Wendy Schmidt Awards for Excellence in Science Communications, given by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine in partnership with Schmidt Sciences.

This application cycle marks the third year of the Eric and Wendy Schmidt Awards for Excellence in Science Communications, which honor exceptional science communicators, journalists, and research scientists who have developed creative, original work to communicate issues and advances in science, engineering, or medicine for the general public.

These prestigious awards strive to recognize and build a diverse community of science communicators, science journalists, and research scientists. Submissions are encouraged from individuals who have developed high-quality communications and demonstrated the potential or ability to communicate the spectrum of science, engineering, or medicine. This third cohort of winners will be supported as they continue to demystify complex issues related to science, engineering, and health effectively, helping society meet the challenges and realize opportunities posed by complex issues such as climate change, future pandemics, human genome editing, and artificial intelligence.

The program will confer 24 awards totaling $640,000. These awards will go to individuals who were working at the frontlines of science communication or journalism, with nine awards for research scientists, nine awards for science journalists, and six awards for science communicators. The Awards for Excellence in Science Communications are more than one-time monetary awards. In addition to the prize, Schmidt Sciences will help foster the vibrant and expanding community of science communications awardees by partnering with renowned journalistic institutions to provide ongoing training and professional development opportunities.

“The past two years, the committee has had the privilege of reviewing incredibly high-quality submissions on a diversity of topics related to science, engineering, and medicine,” said Leah H. Jamieson, selection committee chair and Ransburg Distinguished Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering and Dean Emerita of Engineering at Purdue University. “We look forward to honoring and learning from another set of submissions this year that elicit feelings of awe, wonder, and contemplation through powerful storytelling and communication about topics that affect our lives and our world.”

“Science is important to every aspect of our lives — from our economy, to our safety and security, to our health and well-being,” said National Academy of Sciences President Marcia McNutt. “And yet, far too many people don’t feel included in or connected to science in meaningful ways. Excellent science communicators invite everyone to science through their engaging and illuminating works. We look forward to recognizing and rewarding their important efforts.”

“Science communicators not only share essential, accurate information about the most significant issues of our time — they also ensure that science is pursued and applied ethically and equitably, to improve the well-being of all people,” said Wendy Schmidt, who co-founded Schmidt Sciences with her husband Eric. “As humanity pursues climate resilience, new technologies, cures for disease, and ever deeper knowledge of our universe, we are honored to join the National Academies in supporting a third cohort of communicators who are advancing our understanding of our deeply interconnected world.”

Recognizing and developing a wide pool of science communicators 

The awards in the following categories will be given to individuals who have developed creative, original work published or released in 2023 that explores issues or advances in science, engineering, or medicine for the general public:

Nine Awards for Research Scientists will be split into three subcategories.

  • Graduate student researchers — master’s or Ph.D. candidate and practicing research in science, engineering, or medical fields
  • Early-career researchers — practicing researcher in science, engineering, or medical fields and was 0-five years post-master’s or Ph.D.
  • Later-career researchers — practicing researcher in science, engineering, or medical fields and was six+ years post-master’s or Ph.D.

Nine Awards for Science Journalists will focus on three subcategories in science journalism.

  • Local/regional journalists — developed content for media organizations that focused on local/regional issues, reported the effects of wider issues on a locality or region, or regionally focused subsections of outlets that were broader in reach
  • Early-career journalists — under 30 years of age or had less than five years of professional experience
  • Freelance journalists — developed content for media organizations and was self-employed

Six Awards for Science Communicators will focus on two other subcategories in science communication for individuals who addressed issues or advances in science, engineering, or medical fields and did not identify as a science journalist or practicing research scientist.

  • Independent communicators — not employed full-time by a third-party organization or institution to do this work
  • Organizational communicators — employed by an organization or institution

In each subcategory, there will be one top award at $40,000 and two awards of recognition at $20,000 each. In all, a total of $640,000 will be awarded.

Submissions will be accepted from March 1 until March 31, 2024. Leading scientists and experts in all aspects of science communication and journalism — from the academic, nonprofit, corporate, and other sectors — will review the submissions and select the winners. The winners will be announced in fall 2024. For more information, see nationalacademies.org/awards/excellence-in-communication.

The Eric and Wendy Schmidt Awards for Excellence in Science Communications are supported by Schmidt Sciences. Additional support is provided by the National Academy of Sciences’ W.K. Kellogg Foundation Fund and the Ralph J. and Carol M. Cicerone Endowment for NAS Missions.

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.

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.

Media Contacts:
Olivia Hamilton
Communications Specialist, The National Academies’ Office of News and Public Information
ohamilton@nas.edu

Caroline Callewaert
Manager, Schmidt Sciences
ccallewaert@schmidtsciences.org