Job Description

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.

Submissions are being accepted for the National Academies 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.

These $20,000 and $40,000 awards honor exceptional science communicators, journalists, and research scientists who have developed creative, original work in 2025 that makes science, engineering, and/or medicine accessible and engaging for general audiences. In total, 24 awards will be given, totaling $640,000.

Entries are accepted in the following subcategories:

• 9 Awards for Research Scientists will focus on three subcategories: graduate student researchers, early-career researchers , and later-career researchers.
• 9 Awards for Science Journalists will focus on three subcategories: local/regional journalists, early-career journalists, and freelance journalists.
• 6 Awards for Science Communicators will focus on two subcategories: independent communicators and organizational communicators.