Award/Competition

National Academies Eric and Wendy Schmidt Awards for Excellence in Science Communications

For individuals who are working on the frontlines of science communication, science journalism, or practicing research, and who can demonstrate the potential or ability to develop high-quality, engaging science communications or reporting.

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News and updates

National Academies Announce 2025 Winners of Eric and Wendy Schmidt Awards for Excellence in Science Communications; $640,000 Awarded

News Release

This year’s recipients of the Eric and Wendy Schmidt Awards for Excellence in Science Communications have been selected in recognition of their creative and original work in 2024 to communicate issues and advances in science, engineering, and medicine.

Oct 22, 2025

2025 recipients of the Eric and Wendy Schmidt Awards for Excellence in Science Communications, and others, at a celebration in their honor on Nov. 14, 2025 (photo by Marion Meakem Photography)

From Illness to Impact: Turning Science into a Tool for Community Change

Feature Story

Elijah was a 2023 award winner of the National Academies’ Eric and Wendy Schmidt Awards for Excellence in Science Communications with a continued passion for documentary filmmaking, storytelling, public performance, scientific research, communication, impact campaigns, public engagement and restructuring a better society.

Dec 29, 2025

From Neutrinos to Narratives: An Interview with Katrina Miller

Feature Story

As a science reporter for the New York Times, Katrina Miller writes about the universe and how the pursuit of understanding it impacts society. Miller was a 2023 award winner of the National Academies’ Eric and Wendy Schmidt Awards for Excellence in Science Communications.

Oct 2, 2025

Katrina Miller at the Vera C. Rubin Observatory in Chile

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About Application and Review Process Past awardees Resources News and Updates

Key dates

March 2 - April 3, 2026: Submissions Accepted

October 2026: Winners Announced

November 2026: Winner Workshop and Recognition Event in Washington, DC

Award details

The National Academies Eric and Wendy Schmidt Awards for Excellence in Science Communications will encourage high-quality science communication and build a robust community of science communicators, science journalists, and research scientists as they continue to demystify complex issues related to science, engineering, and health effectively, inspiring wonder and curiosity about issues that impact daily life and planetary well-being.

In 2026, 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 who have developed creative, original work that addresses issues and advances in science, engineering, or medicine for the general public, and who are in career stages or settings where the recognition could have a significant impact on their future career.

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.

16 total number of $20k prizes awarded

8 total number of top prizes ($40K) awarded

= 24 prizes awarded.

Application

The application incorporates ways of looking at the individual* holistically through narrative responses and work examples. Both the narrative components of the submission and the work example(s) provided will be included in the evaluation. Reviewers are not only looking at what an applicant has done, but also their commitment to continuing work in the field of science communication, science journalism, or practicing research science.
*We recognize the importance of teamwork to many science communication and journalism endeavors; however, these awards are for individuals. Applicants had an opportunity to articulate the contributions of their collaborators.

About You

You are encouraged to apply if you worked in one of the categories described below, and you:
- Can articulate what motivates you to create work(s) that improve the public’s interest, appreciation, or understanding of science, engineering, or medicine, and their impact on society.
- Demonstrate a passion for science communication or journalism and can tell us how you got here and where you are headed.
- Have at least one outstanding example of science communication or journalism that demonstrates your potential or ability to communicate the issues, beauty, societal benefits, complexities, shortcomings, or controversies of science, engineering, or medicine.
- Can set forth a compelling case for what this award would mean to you.
About Your Work

You areasked to provide at least one – and no more than three – outstanding example(s) that clearly support the subcategory to which you are applying, and:
- communicate scientific, engineering, or medical concepts to non-technical audiences
- demonstrate clarity, creativity, originality, and accuracy
- address issues or advances in science, engineering, or medicine
- cover topics that have an impact on society
- are presented in a way that a public audience can understand
- had been published or released anytime in 2025
Individuals who apply to the Research Scientist: Graduate Student Subcategory, are asked to include work examples that were published or released in 2025 and produced while they had graduate student status. Work examples published in 2025 but after graduation may be considered pending verification that they were produced while the individual had graduate student status. (Individuals are asked to explain how they would verify the production timeline of examples that were published after graduation.)

For each work example provided, you are asked to focus the reviewers' attention, as necessary.

A broad range of science communications and journalism are encouraged – from magazine/newspaper articles, film/video, TV and radio segments to podcasts, newsletters, social media content, mixed media works and installations, and public talks.

Science fiction, reference books, textbooks, peer-reviewed articles, testimony, advertorials, and corporate-branded content are not eligible for consideration. Previous winners of this award, employees of the National Academies and Schmidt Sciences, and committee and jury members are not eligible, and posthumous awards are not permitted. This award is not for lifetime achievement. Applications and work examples must be in English or English translations must be provided

Please contact program staff with any questions you may have regarding work examples.

Submissions that include ineligible work examples may be disqualified.
Applications will be accepted March 2 - April 3, 2026

Given the breadth of this award program – and the volume of submissions – you are encouraged to be selective about the work(s) provided – focusing on the best examples – and to include links, uploads, and notes that direct reviewers to a starting point. Mapping out a starting point is especially important with long-form media such as books (direct reviewers to specific pages or chapters), film/video (beginning/ending timestamps), podcasts (specific episodes), and social media content (specific threads or posts), for example.

Submissions that include ineligible work examples, long-form media or entire social media accounts, and websites as work examples - and do not map out a starting point - may be disqualified.

Entries must be submitted through the online submission form in the category that most closely fit the submitter’s background by 11:59 p.m. ET, April 3, 2026. Works and applications translated into English are welcome. The program accepts one application per individual. There is no submission fee.

Before applying, you are encouraged to read the contest rules.

Feel free to contact us with any questions you may have.
2026 Contest Rules

Applicant Resource

Contest rules for the 2026 National Academies Eric and Wendy Schmidt Awards for Excellence in Science Communications

Selection process

A rigorous, six-month review process is implemented to identify the winners. Committee and jury members will review submissions in each category, and the committee will conduct the final phase of review for each category and select the final cohort of winners.

Committee

The committee is responsible for reviewing submissions and selecting the award winners through a rigorous review process, and providing general program oversight. Committee members reflect a range of expertise in communication and journalistic mediums, scientific content, and career stages, and include members of the National Academy of Sciences, National Academy of Engineering, and National Academy of Medicine.

Jury

The jury is responsible for evaluating submissions in the first two review phases, and for providing input on the program to the committee for consideration. Jury members reflect a range of expertise in communication and journalistic mediums, scientific content expertise, and career stages.

Submission Categories

Science Journalist
Freelance Journalist
Developed content for media organizations and was self-employed.

Early-Career Journalist
Was under 30 years of age or had less than 5 years of professional experience developing content for media organizations.

Local/Regional Journalist
Developed content for media organizations that:
Focused on local/regional issues.
Reported the effects of wider issues on a locality or region.
Or were regionally-focused subsections of outlets that were broader in reach.
Science Communicator

Addressed issues or advances in science, engineering, or medical fields and did not identify as a science journalist or practicing research scientist.
Independent Communicator
Was not employed full-time by a third-party organization or institution to do this work.
Organizational Communicator
Was employed by an organization or institution.
Research Scientist

Graduate Student Researcher
Was a Master’s, MD, or PhD candidate practicing research in science, engineering, or medical fields.

Early-Career Researcher
Was a practicing researcher in science, engineering, or medical fields and was less than 6 years post-Master’s, MD, or PhD.

Later-Career Researcher
Was a practicing researcher in science, engineering, or medical fields and was 6 or more years post-Master’s, MD, or PhD.

FAQs

My work spans categories. Should I submit to both?

No. Submit to the category that most closely aligns with your situation in 2025, and the work example(s) you intend to provide. Duplicate submissions will not be considered. Even if you have created works in multiple categories, the work example(s) you provide should support the category in which you choose to submit.
Please select the category and work example(s) that most closely match your situation and the work example(s) you intend to provide.
What category should I apply to if I am in a lecturer / instructional / teaching professor track and developed science communications in 2025?

Please submit to one of the science communicator categories if you are not a practicing researcher and/or are in a lecturer / instructional / teaching professor track.
Am I more applicable to the Science Journalist: Freelance or Science Communicator: Independent category?

We understand that award candidates can work between disciplines, and this is especially true among freelance, independent, or other self-employed sectors. If the majority of your work in 2025 was produced for news outlets or sources, you are encouraged to submit to the Science Journalist: Freelance Category. If you were self-employed, working outside of journalism in 2025, and reaching audiences not reached through traditional journalistic media, you are encouraged to submit to the Science Communicator: Independent Category.

For example, if you are a freelance journalist who typically produces journalistic content for media organizations but worked as an independent to develop communications for a museum, then you should submit to one of the Science Communications categories (see additional clarification in the next question) and do not include journalistic content work examples in your entry. Please select the category and work examples that most closely match your situation and the work example(s) you intend to provide.
Am I more applicable to the Science Communicator: Independent or Science Communicator: Organizational category?

If you are an independent science communicator who was contracted by an organization to produce the work example(s) – and it was (and they were) produced outside of the organizational structure – then apply as Science Communicator: Independent. If you were integrated into the organization and leveraged the organizational resources to produce the work example(s), then apply as Science Communicator: Organizational. You will have an opportunity to further articulate your involvement in the work example(s) you intend to provide on the application.
My work example(s) were part of a team effort. How do I acknowledge other team members’ contributions?

We recognize the importance of teamwork to many science communication and journalism endeavors; however, these awards are for individuals who are working at the frontlines of science communication or journalism. Additionally, you will be asked to articulate your specific contribution to the work example(s) you intend to provide, and will have an opportunity to describe the contributions of your collaborators.
Are there preferred content areas or mediums?

No. The program will consider all high-quality submissions that address issues or advances in science, engineering, or medicine for the general public.
Am I eligible to apply if I live outside of the United States?

Yes, this awards program accepts submissions from both international and United States applicants. All submissions must be in English. Works translated to English from another language are also accepted.

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My Academies

National Academies Eric and Wendy Schmidt Awards for Excellence in Science Communications

News and updates

Key dates

Award details

16 total number of $20k prizes awarded

8 total number of top prizes ($40K) awarded

= 24 prizes awarded.

Application

Application Process

Eligibility

How to apply

Resources

Selection process

Selection criteria

Submission Categories

Submission Categories

Science Journalist

Science Communicator

Research Scientist

FAQs

FAQs

My work spans categories. Should I submit to both?

What category should I apply to if I am in a lecturer / instructional / teaching professor track and developed science communications in 2025?

Am I more applicable to the Science Journalist: Freelance or Science Communicator: Independent category?

Am I more applicable to the Science Communicator: Independent or Science Communicator: Organizational category?

My work example(s) were part of a team effort. How do I acknowledge other team members’ contributions?

Are there preferred content areas or mediums?

Am I eligible to apply if I live outside of the United States?