By Leah Burrows
The Council for the Advancement of Science Writing and the National Association of Science Writers honored some of the year’s best science writing at the annual ScienceWriters Awards Night Oct. 18 at the Center of Science and Industry (COSI) in Columbus, OH.
The Science in Society Journalism Awards, sponsored by the National Association of Science Writers, honored journalists in five categories: book, science reporting, long form, science reporting for a local or regional market, and commentary and opinion.
New York Times reporter Amy Harmon received the science reporting award for her piece, “A Race to Save the Orange by Altering its DNA.” The article, published in the Times July 28, 2013, explores the science behind genetically modified organisms, and the fear and misconceptions surrounding the technology.
Phil McKenna was awarded the long form prize for “Uprising: The Environmental Scandal That’s Happening Right Beneath Your Feet,” published in Matter Nov. 6, 2013. McKenna tells the story of whistleblower Bob Ackley, a former gas industry contractor, who exposed the gas utilities’ indifference to widespread leaks in Boston, New York, Washington, D.C., and other cities.
Cally Carswell’s “The Tree Coroners,” which explores the relationship between changing climates and forest loss, received the award for science reporting for a local or regional market. The piece was published in High Country News Dec. 9, 2013. In her acceptance speech, Carswell dismissed the myth that climate change stories are boring.
“As environmental reporters, we often write about invisible, slow moving problems,” Carswell said. “But the science is incredibly fascinating. We have an opportunity to engage people on these complex topics.”
The commentary and opinion award was given to Charles Seife for his piece, “23andMe Is Terrifying, but Not for the Reasons the FDA Thinks,” published in Scientific American’s SA Forum Nov. 27, 2013. Seife’s piece examines the danger in companies holding our genetic data.
Author Sheri Fink received the book award for her work, “Five Days At Memorial: Life and Death in a Storm-Ravaged Hospital.” She was unable to accept the award in person Saturday night as she was in Liberia covering the Ebola outbreak.
In addition to the Science in Society Journalism Awards, the Council for the Advancement of Science Writing presented two awards. Azeen Ghorayshi received the Evert Clark/Seth Payne Award for science writers 30 years old or younger.
Elisabeth Rosenthal, of the New York Times, received the Victor Cohn Prize for Excellence in Medical Science Reporting for her series, “Paying Till it Hurts,” about the financial and public health toll of the country’s $2.8 trillion annual healthcare bill.
Rosenthal, who got the idea for the series after seeing her own bill for a routine colonoscopy, said she wanted to put a human face on our complex healthcare system.
“I wanted to find out what was happening in people’s kitchens when they opened their medical bills,” she said. “The best thing about being a science journalist, is connecting knowledge to people’s everyday lives.”
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