This photo shows the text "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."

The Eric and Wendy Schmidt Award for Science Communication is an award for researchers, science communicators, and science journalists creating engaging science communication content. Given by the National Academies for Science, Engineering, and Medicine in partnership with the philanthropy Schmidt Sciences, 24 annual awards totalling $640,000 go to graduate students, faculty members, research scientists, and professional science communicators and journalists. This includes 16 prizes of $20,000 and 8 prizes of $40,000. 

    "Excellent science communicators invite everyone to science through their engaging and illuminating works,” the awards website quotes President of the National Academy of Sciences Marcia McNutt. “We look forward to recognizing and rewarding their important efforts." 

    In 2023, award winners were chosen from submissions in eight subcategories, including Graduate Student Researcher, Early-Career Researcher, Late-Career Researcher, Freelance Journalist, Early-Career Journalist, Local/Regional Journalist, Independent Communicator, and Organization Communicator. Entries can include, but are not limited to, articles, film/video, multimedia projects, and public talks. Although 2024 applications are closed, 2025 applications should be opened early spring of 2025. 

    Kristel Tjandra, a recipient of the 2022 award for Early Career Research Scientist, is currently a postdoctoral scholar at Stanford University where she helps create tools for diagnosing multi-drug resistant bacteria. 

    “This award makes me feel both validated and empowered to highlight stories of science and their impacts on human lives,” said Tjandra about receiving the award. “I am incredibly honored and hope that through this award, many more opportunities will be available for scientists like myself to keep pursuing excellence in science communication.”

    James Dingley was the 2023 award recipient for Research Scientist Graduate Student. He studies space robotics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and explores how developing communities adopt space-based technologies. He shares his and others’ stories through public talks and his YouTube channel. 

    “At a crossroads in life where I'm deciding between getting a real job, becoming a perpetual student, or exploring the world to make videos, this award makes science communication seem like something I might actually be able to do full-time!” said Dingley. “I'm excited to see what new engineering stories I will share.”

    We encourage anyone whose work may fit into one of these award categories to apply. Keep an eye on the website for the announcement of the next submission deadline. Let’s get a Virginia Tech graduate student, postdoctoral fellow, or faculty member represented in the world of science communication awards!

 

    Written by Elliott Byrd, Center for Communicating Science Student Intern