AAAS Early Career Award for Public Engagement with Science 2026

🏆 About the Award

The AAAS Early Career Award for Public Engagement with Science honors early-stage professionals in STEM who excel in public engagement with science. This award recognizes individuals who go beyond research to connect science with society through communication, outreach, and dialogue. It highlights the importance of science communication, public trust, and societal impact in modern research careers.

🎁 Benefits

• Monetary Prize: $5,000
• Commemorative Plaque
• Recognition: Honored at the AAAS Annual Meeting

✅ Eligibility Criteria

• Nominations:

  • Can be made by individuals, universities, government agencies, media, research organizations, and AAAS affiliate organizations.
  • Self-nominations are permitted.
  • Multiple candidates can be nominated by one nominator.

• Nominee Requirements:

  • Must be an individual scientist, mathematician, or engineer. Groups or institutions are not eligible.
  • Must represent a field of science, technology, engineering, and/or math (STEM) and actively conduct research in any scientific discipline (including social sciences, mathematics, engineering, and medicine).
  • Public engagement activities must go above and beyond job responsibilities.
  • Must be "early career," defined as having completed their terminal degree within seven years of the nomination deadline.

• Additional Notes:

  • Prior nomination or being a named finalist does not exclude a candidate from consideration in subsequent years. Re-nomination is encouraged.
  • Current students are not eligible.
  • AAAS employees are ineligible.

📅 Application Date and Process

• Deadline: 30 June, 2026
• Submission: All nominations must be submitted electronically through the nomination site.
• Language: Nominations and materials must be in English.
• Alternate Format: Contact awards@aaas.org for alternate formats.

Required Materials:

1. Nominee Information: Name, email, position, institution, and phone number.
2. Nominator Information: Name, email, position, institution, and phone number (if not a self-nomination).
3. Brief Citation: A 25–30 word description of the accomplishment(s).
4. Nomination Rationale:
   • A PDF statement (maximum 3 pages) discussing the nominee’s approach to public engagement, goals, audience, message, dialogue, evaluation, and examples of impact on their scientific work.
5. Curriculum Vitae:
   • Limit to 5 pages, with a section highlighting public engagement activities distinct from job responsibilities.
6. Representative Material Samples:
   • At least two (up to five) samples illustrating the nominee’s public engagement contributions.
   • Optional: Up to two letters of support from colleagues, supervisors, or participants.
7. Social Media Accounts: If applicable, include relevant accounts used for public engagement.

Note: All materials submitted become the property of AAAS.

📌 Contact Information

For inquiries or alternate formats, contact:

• Email: awards@aaas.org

🌐 Additional Information

• View full details of the award on the AAAS website.
• Apply directly through the nomination site.

• The recipient receives a monetary prize of $5,000, a commemorative plaque, and recognition at the AAAS Annual Meeting.