SciComm Excellence

In a piece for Quanta Magazine, 2024 award winner Zack Savitsky gives a deep dive on the history behind entropy and shares insight into how researchers think about the second law of thermodynamics today. “Two hundred years after the seeds of entropy were first sown, what’s emerging is a conception of this quantity that’s more opportunistic than nihilistic,” he writes. “The conceptual evolution is upending the old way of thinking, not just about entropy, but about the purpose of science and our role in the universe.” Read more at: https://lnkd.in/g4rXHcmh #physics #sciencecommunication #sciencehistory #engineering #informationtheory

To celebrate the close of an eventful year, award winner Jackie Flynn Mogensen rounded up some intriguing science stories from 2024, including the first ever photo of a newborn great white shark, a powerful microorganism named “Chonkus,” meat-eating squirrels and more. “So much of this year felt like a fever dream,” she writes in the piece for Mother Jones. “I, personally, am tired. Which is why, this year, I’m leaning into my nerdish tendencies and rounding up some good, interesting, or inspiring news stories from the science world—promising discoveries, exciting new data, historic events, and unsung heroes.” Read more at: https://lnkd.in/exRXD9AW #sciencecommunication #discovery #newyear #sciencewriting

A new report from The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine provides a comprehensive assessment of the literature on science misinformation, its origins and impact, and strategies for mitigating its spread and potential harms. Read more at: https://lnkd.in/g53MDnuV

🎉 Ending 2024 in LA, accepting this Top Award for Excellence in Science Communication & Journalism from The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine , SciComm Excellence , & Schmidt Sciences Thank you Marcia McNutt , geophysicist and President of the National Academy of Sciences (in the 3rd photo! 🤗) , Andrea Bandelli (2nd photo 💙), Wendy Schmidt, and to all 42 members of the jury 🥹Maybe it shouldn’t feel this way, but it was honestly surreal and so touching to be honored for work that I have been doing for so long anyway…just because it’s what I do (ok, one of several things I do and love 😅) 🙏🏽With a little help and encouragement from others who know me well, I forced myself to slow down, face the discomfort of this attention (usually I am the MC…presenting the awards), reflect, and savor this. Especially after the past two years, which has been the most challenging chapter of my career. 🎥This honor recognizes my role as a medical reporter and my recent work in science visual storytelling—from videos on earthquake simulation to large-scale ocean experiments and the future of wireless technology. 🧬My goal has always been to make complex science not just accessible, but exciting and, when possible… fun and funny 😃 Thank you to the teams at @thenasem and @scicommexcellence and @schmidtsciences for your support, for all the effort for this event and the series of workshops, and for introducing me to some of the coolest scientists, journalists, and storytellers who embody #SciComm excellence (a few more posts to come!) 📸: Photo Credit to Ben Gibbs

As scientific discoveries and breakthroughs are made, science communication allows the fruits of those discoveries to be shared with those who need it most. 2023 award winners Saad B., Steven Strogatz, and Janina M Jeff Ringo, PhD, MS discuss how, when researchers share their science with the public, they increase the impact of their science by giving people the tools they need to make informed decisions about their own lives and inspiring the next generation of scientists. The National Academies Eric and Wendy Schmidt Awards for Science Communications, given by The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine in partnership with Schmidt Sciences, 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. Learn more about our program and previous winners at: https://lnkd.in/gE7XfUbQ #sciencecommunication #discovery #STEM #science #engineering #research #academia

Join the National Academies' Board on Science Education Thursday Dec. 19 at 11 am ET for a webinar discussing the conclusions and recommendations of a new report on Understanding and Addressing Misinformation about Science! The new report from the The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine assesses the available research on misinformation about science to characterize its sources, spread, and impacts. It also identifies solutions to limit the spread of science misinformation and provides guidance on interventions, policies, and research to reduce its associated harms. Join members of the authoring committee for an overview of the report and a discussion of its conclusions and recommendations at: https://lnkd.in/e_HbyFKj #sciencecommunication

I didn’t realize The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine Schmidt Sciences communications award would be much more than just a prize. We visited the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory and discussed our craft for three days with a great crew of scientists, journalists and creators including Pulitzer and Nobel winners. We didn’t figure out how to save journalism and science in America once and for all, but we definitely took inspiration and fortified ourselves for the next few years. Thank you guys ✌️

It was a true pleasure to congratulate the winners of the 2024 Eric and Wendy Schmidt SciComm Excellence Awards, presented by The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine and Schmidt Sciences. This year’s cohort is exceptionally talented, creative, and innovative, with their work serving as a benchmark for outstanding science communication and journalism. All their profiles and incredible projects are available on the National Academies’ website: https://lnkd.in/eHtxf-7g Over the past 3 years, it’s been an honor to serve on the founding committee of the awards, which have become a key reference point for advancing the field of science communication. I’m excited to see next year’s submissions—applications open in March!

Last week, SciComm Excellence and Schmidt Sciences came together to honor the transformative power of science storytelling at the 2024 Eric and Wendy Schmidt Awards for Excellence in Science Communications awards ceremony. This year’s awardees exemplify how powerful, clear, and engaging communication can make science accessible, relevant, and inspiring to everyone. Thank you to our incredible partners The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine and to the awardees for their vital work in building trust, sparking curiosity, and connecting science to communities across the globe.