Royal Society Kohn Award for Excellence in Engaging the Public with Science
The Royal Society Kohn Award for Excellence in Engaging the Public with Science is for UK-based early-career scientists or science communicators who have undertaken high-quality public engagement activities which has had (or will have) a strategic impact on institutions, organisations and cultures, and whose career and future public engagement activities will benefit from the award.
The award consists of a silver gilt medal, a gift of £2500 and a grant of £7500 for science communication activities, and is awarded by the Royal Society with the generous support of the Kohn Foundation.
Nominations
The prize will next be awarded in 2011 and nominations will open in the Autumn of 2010.
Selection
The Royal Society Kohn award for excellence in engaging the public with science is an annual award that seeks to
- foster awareness in the scientific community, and in particular amongst early-career scientists, of the importance of undertaking public engagement with science activities. Early-career is defined for this award to mean those that are five to twenty years into their career.
- reward and recognise early-career scientists and science communicators who have undertaken high-quality public engagement with science activities, especially those that discuss with public audiences the impact of science in broader society, and the social and ethical aspects related to science, and those that take the form of dialogue, and those that connect with decision-making and governance of science-related issues.
- encourage early-career scientists and science communicators to adopt good practice in undertaking public engagement with science activities.
The selection criteria include the strategic impact of the recipient's work on institutions, organisations and cultures and the impact of the award on the future development of the recipient's career.
Most recent winner
Space scientist Dr Lucie Green from University College London (UCL) is the 2009 winner, announced on 24 August 2009.
Dr Green receives the award for her leadership in building up a first-class programme of engagement, communication and outreach projects at the Mullard Space Science Laboratory (MSSL) at UCL over ten years. Her achievements include mentoring scientists within her department in public engagement and changing the overall culture of her department and university to encourage public engagement with science work.
On hearing of the award, Dr Green said: "As a scientist I feel that public engagement is a vital part of my day-to-day life and fundamental to the role of a university. As well as being an important part of our culture, public engagement with science provides many benefits to the scientist, their host institution and the audience through discussing research in an inclusive way. I'm extremely pleased to receive this award which highlights both the Royal Society's commitment to this important area and UCL's valuable contribution to the cultural life of London."
Previous winners
-
2005: Colin Pulham, a chemist at the University of Edinburgh, who set up and championed in his department a programme of school and community workshops on chemistry that toured through local communities in Scotland. The department now has an active programme of science communication activities involving staff at all levels. Read more about Colin's work and the impact of the award.
- 2006: Kathy Sykes, at the University of Bristol, for leading a programme to encourage the University of Bristol to become "the engaged university" - encouraging and enabling scientists to participate in engagement activities. Read more about Kathy's work.
- 2007: Carolyn Stephens, an epidemiologist at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, for creating and championing a programme of work experience and summer schools. LSHTM's director Andy Haines, commented "She's persuaded many, including me, to consider community and public engagement as a fundamental part of our scientific institution's role." Read more about Carolyn's work.
- 2008: Chris Smith, at the University of Cambridge, for his work engaging a diverse audience with science through his pioneering radio show, podcasts and website, "the Naked Scientists". Chris encourages an enthusiastic team of physicians and researchers from Cambridge University to be involved in the programme, whilst also working as a doctor and researcher. Read more about Chris's work.
Selection panel
The selection panel advises the Council of the Royal Society on who would be the most suitable candidate for the Award, and consists of:
- Professor Uta Frith FRS (Chair)
- Dr Jason Chilvers, University of Birmingham
- Professor Marcus du Sautoy, University of Oxford
- Dr Ralph Kohn FRS, The Kohn Foundation
- Ms Clare Matterson, Wellcome Trust
- Professor Kathy Sykes, University of Bristol