Nia Imara Honored for Excellence in Science Communication

This article is adapted from a press release by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine.

The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine announced today this year’s recipients of the Eric and Wendy Schmidt Awards for Excellence in Science Communications, given by the National Academies in partnership with Schmidt Sciences. These prestigious awards recognize science journalists, research scientists, and science communicators who have developed creative, original work to communicate issues and advances in science, engineering, and medicine to the general public.
 
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 11–14 November 2025 in Washington, DC.
 
“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.”

AAS member Nia Imara (University of California, Santa Cruz; Onaketa) was awarded a prize in the Research Scientist: Later Career category for her eloquent and creative science communication that bridges astrophysics, art, and equity. Through her writing and 3D-printed stellar nurseries, as well as her broader work as an author, artist, and advocate, she makes complex science both accessible and inspiring, revealing to audiences how stars are born. She uplifts underrepresented voices in STEM while conveying the wonder of the cosmos, making her an outstanding model of science communication rooted in both passion and purpose.

Congratulations, Nia!