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

A total of 24 awards, split among eight categories, were announced - nine awards for science communication by research scientists, nine awards for science journalists, and six awards for science communicators. In each category, one $40,000 top prize and two $20,000 awards were given, totaling $640,000.

The winners will be honored Nov. 11-14, 2025, in Washington, D.C.

"As chair of the selection committee, I am absolutely thrilled to celebrate this year's honorees, whose creativity and clarity make science, engineering, and medicine tangible for people everywhere," said selection committee chair Megan L. Ranney, a member of the National Academy of Medicine and dean of the Yale School of Public Health. "These outstanding communicators remind us that knowledge becomes powerful when it is shared. By reaching across disciplines, mediums, and communities, they not only inform but also inspire, helping all of us see how science shapes our daily lives and our shared future. It is a privilege to recognize their work, and I look forward to the new ways they will spark curiosity and connection in the years ahead."

"Science offers hope for a better future for all of us," said National Academy of Sciences President Marcia McNutt. "However, to fully reap the benefits of discovery and innovation, it's more important than ever to invite as many people as possible into science. Our outstanding award winners are meeting diverse audiences where they are and empowering them to make informed decisions for themselves and their communities. I am delighted to honor these exemplary communicators with these awards."

"Science communication can make the difference between understanding and incomprehension, between misinformation and truth, and in matters of health, between life and death," said Wendy Schmidt, co-founder of Schmidt Sciences. "When both science and journalism are struggling from loss of funding and talent, it becomes ever more important to support insightful, dogged storytellers like today's winners in their efforts to lead us toward knowledge and the power that comes with it."

Science Journalist: Freelancer

Top Prize Winner:

• "OUR MOON: How Earth's Celestial Companion Transformed the Planet, Guided Evolution, and Made Us Who We Are"(Random House)
• "The 'Beautiful Confusion' of the First Billion Years Comes Into View" (Quanta Magazine)
• "The Great Eclipse / How the Eclipse Will Change Solar Science Forever" (Scientific American)

Rebecca Boyle's luminous storytelling brings new wonder to familiar cosmic subjects. Her book Our Moon and articles across outlets weave history, personal narrative, and scientific discovery into writing that is at once authoritative and deeply engaging. With clarity, grace, and curiosity, she makes astrophysics and space science accessible to broad audiences, reminding readers why the cosmos matters to our lives on Earth.

Winners:

Science Journalist: Early Career

Top Prize Winner:

• "A Scientific Fraud. An Investigation. A Lab in Recovery." (The Transmitter)
• "Knowledge Gaps in Cephalopod Care Could Stall Welfare Standards" (The Transmitter)
• "How Inbreeding Almost Tanked an Up-and-Coming Model of Alzheimer's Disease" (The Transmitter)

Calli McMurray's incisive reporting on the hidden structures and human consequences that shape science is deeply novel and impactful. Her article on the fallout of scientific fraud offers a rare, humane look at how misconduct derails careers and undermines trust, while her other pieces illuminate overlooked dynamics in neuroscience and research practice. With maturity, rigor, and originality, McMurray brings readers "under the hood" of science, helping the public better understand not just discoveries but the process and people behind them.

Winners:

Science Journalist: Local/Regional

Top Prize Winner:

• "Open Season" (Grist)
• "Unnatural Selection" (Virginia Quarterly Review/Grist)
• "The Industry Behind Your Filet-O-Fish Is Destroying Alaska's Oceans and Rivers" (The Nation/The Lever)

Lois Parshley's reporting on the intersection of science, politics, and community in Alaska is deeply investigated and beautifully written. Her stories reveal the complex trade-offs between conservation, livelihoods, and governance. With lyrical writing, rigorous detail, and a commitment to underreported regions, she illustrates the power of science journalism to illuminate systemic challenges shaping our planet's future.

Winners:

Research Scientist: Graduate Student

Top Prize Winner:

• "El Universo Segun Carlota: Galaxias Lejanas y Materia Oscura" (Editorial Planeta Chile)
• "Abecedario Astronomico de Tere Paneque" (UNICEF Chile)
• "@terepaneque" (Instagram)

Teresa Paneque Carreño exemplifies impactful, far-reaching science communication that is deeply rooted in community, culture, and accessibility. Through her bestselling children's book series, collaborations with UNICEF, and widely followed social media presence, Paneque Carreño combines storytelling, cultural relevance, and scientific rigor to spark curiosity about science and astronomy and inspire the next generation. Her success as a communicator lies in her ability to meet young people where they are and broaden participation in science through both reach and impact.

Winners:

Research Scientist: Early Career

Top Prize Winner:

• "Sharks Don't Sink: Adventures of a Rogue Shark Scientist" (Pantheon)
• "These Sharks Eat Plants" (PBS Terra)
• "Shark Beach with Anthony Mackie: Gulf Coast" (National Geographic)

Jasmin Graham's unique ability to weave together scientific expertise, social justice, and conservation makes her a compelling and influential voice in science communication. Her impactful storytelling across mediums and her advocacy for shark science help to cultivate and promote human connection to the ocean and break down the process of science for different audiences. Graham's research and communication go hand in hand, each informing and strengthening the other to broaden access to marine science.

Winners:

Research Scientist: Later Career

Top Prize Winner:

• "Debates on the Nature of Artificial General Intelligence" (Science)
• "The Turing Test and Our Shifting Conceptions of Intelligence" (Science)
• Santa Fe Institute Complexity Podcast, "The Nature of Intelligence" (Santa Fe Institute)

Melanie Mitchell demonstrates clarity, originality, and insightfulness in her communication about artificial intelligence and its societal implications. Through her column and podcast, she demystifies complex topics like the nature of intelligence and AI, breaking past the excitement of cutting-edge subjects with nuance and rigor. Mitchell's work brings clarity and perspective to one of today's most pressing and often misunderstood topics.

Winners:

Science Communicator: Independent

Top Prize Winner:

• "How do they know which animals are sentient?" (Howtown)
• "How they really count the calories" (Howtown)
• "How accurate was the COVID death count?" (Howtown)

Joss Fong's outstanding work as co-creator and host of Howtown blends rigorous research with playful, visually captivating storytelling. Her episodes, which cover topics that can be both complex and whimsical, stand out for their clarity, depth, and creativity, making intricate issues both entertaining and accessible to broad audiences. With high production value, strong narrative instincts, and a gift for raising thoughtful questions, her work embodies excellence in digital science communication.

Winners:

Science Communicator: Organizational

Top Prize Winner:

• "Who's Taking America's Water?" (YouTube)
• "Natural Gas Is Scamming America" (YouTube)
• "You're Getting Screwed by Free Returns" (YouTube)

Winners:

About the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine

About Schmidt Sciences

Contact:

Olivia Hamilton

Communications Specialist

National Academies' Office of News and Public Information