Solar Physics Division Names Recipients of 2024 Popular Media Awards

This announcement has been adapted from an AAS Solar Physics Division announcement.

The AAS Solar Physics Division (SPD) has announced the winners of its 2024 Popular Media Awards: Kathryn Schulz, Ryan French, and Annelia Anderson. These annual awards recognize outstanding efforts to communicate solar physics to the public through journalism, creative media, and student writing. The SPD congratulates this year’s winners for their powerful storytelling and commitment to making the science of the Sun accessible and engaging to broad audiences.

Kathryn Schulz is recognized for her exceptional article “What a Major Solar Storm Could Do to Our Planet,” published in The New Yorker on 26 February 2024. With clarity, depth, and narrative elegance, Schulz explores the real-world consequences of extreme space weather, connecting cutting-edge solar science to the vulnerabilities of modern infrastructure. Her piece captures both the awe and urgency of heliophysics research in a way that is compelling for expert and general audiences alike.

Ryan French receives the award for his exceptional efforts to engage the public with solar science across a wide range of multimedia platforms. Throughout 2024, French produced numerous videos for TikTok, YouTube, and other social media platforms, demystifying solar phenomena and making current research approachable for millions of viewers. His popular article for Space.com further extended this outreach, blending scientific accuracy with compelling storytelling.

Annelia Anderson is honored for her article “Johannes Kepler and the Case of the Disappearing Sunspots,” published on Astrobites on 29 August 2024. Her engaging exploration of Kepler’s observations and their implications for our understanding of solar variability showcases her skill in connecting historical context to modern solar science. The article exemplifies the power of student science communication to illuminate the field’s relevance and wonder.

These awards will be presented at the 56th SPD Meeting, held jointly with the AAS and its Laboratory Astrophysics Division in Anchorage, Alaska, 8–12 June 2025. Congratulations to all three winners of SPD's 2024 Popular Media Awards!