Submissions Now Closed
We are no longer accepting applications, subscribe to our mailing list to be notified when winners are announced and for other news from this program.
For Applicants
Overview
The National Academies Eric and Wendy Schmidt Awards for Excellence in Science Communications will encourage high-quality science communication and build a diverse community of science communicators, science journalists, and research scientists that will help 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 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.
Submission Categories
Submissions were accepted from individuals who had developed content and were working at the frontlines of science communication, science journalism, or practicing research in 2023 in eight subcategories.
- 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.
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.
- Graduate Student Researcher
Was a Master’s 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 0-5 years post-Master’s or PhD.
- Later-Career Researcher
Was a practicing researcher in science, engineering, or medical fields and was 6+ years post-Master’s or PhD.
Eligibility Criteria & Submission Guidelines
The application incorporated 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.
About You
Individuals were encouraged to apply if they worked in one of the categories described above, and they:
Could articulate what motivates them to create work(s) that improve the public’s interest, appreciation, or understanding of science, engineering, or medicine, and their impact on society.
Had a passion for science communication or journalism and could tell us how they got here and where they were headed.
Had at least one outstanding example of science communication or journalism that demonstrated their potential or ability to communicate the issues, beauty, societal benefits, complexities, shortcomings, or controversies of science, engineering, or medicine.
Could set forth a compelling case for what this award would mean to them.
About Your Work
Individuals were asked to provide at least one – and no more than three – outstanding example(s) that clearly support the subcategory to which they applied, and:
address issues or advances in science, engineering, or medicine
are presented in a way that a public audience can understand
have been published or released anytime in 2023
If an individual applied to the Research Scientist: Graduate Student Subcategory, work examples had to have been published or released in 2023 and produced while they had graduate student status. Work examples published in 2023 but after they graduated will be considered pending verification that they were produced while the individual had graduate student status. They will be asked to explain how they will verify the production timeline of examples that were published after graduation.)
For each work example the individual provided, they were asked to focus the reviewers' attention, as necessary.
A broad range of science communications and journalism were 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 were not eligible for consideration. Previous winners of this award, employees of the National Academies and Schmidt Sciences, and committee and jury members were not eligible, and posthumous awards were not permitted. This award is not for lifetime achievement. Applications and work examples must have been in English or English translations must have been provided
Individuals were asked to contact program staff with any questions they had regarding work examples. Submissions that included ineligible work examples may be disqualified.
Ready to Apply?
Given the breadth of this award program – and the volume of submissions – individuals were encouraged to be selective about the work(s) provided – focusing on the best examples – and 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 included 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.
Previous applicants who did not win an award in prior years were strongly encouraged to apply again.
Entries must have been submitted through the online submission form in the category that most closely fit the submitter’s background by 11:59 p.m. ET, March 31, 2024. Works and applications translated into English were welcome. The program accepted one application per individual. There was no submission fee. Before applying, individuals were instructed to read the contest rules.
We are no longer accepting applications, subscribe to our mailing list to be notified when winners are announced and for other news from this program.
IMPORTANT DATES
(Los Angeles, CA area)
March 31, 2025:
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