The Research Council of Norway - The Award for Excellence in Communication of Science

The Award for Excellence in Communication of Science

You will receive a one-off cash prize of NOK 500,000 (about 43,000 EUR) for your outstanding work in communicating your research findings to a wide audience. The Research Council of Norway, a government body, awards the prize once a year at an official ceremony. You must use the money to improve your own communication skills or for further public engagement activities. Any form of public engagement counts, regardless of the medium, whether it is a long-term commitment or a single outstanding project. Communication on ethical issues in research may also be recognised.

Who can apply

• Who it is for: You are a scientist who has demonstrated exceptional skill, creativity and originality in communicating the research findings of your field to the general public.
• Field of study: Open to all fields of research.
• Beyond researchers: People and organisations outside research can also win, if they spread research to broad audiences in an outstanding way.
• Single or shared: The prize is usually awarded to one person, but may also be shared amongst several people who have worked together on the same project.
• How you get in: You must be nominated by someone else. You cannot nominate yourself.

How to apply

The Research Council announces the award each year and collects nominations from third parties, each with a detailed justification. An internal committee picks the five to seven strongest candidates. A jury appointed by the Council's board then chooses the winner.

How realistic are your chances?

As this is a single national prize awarded once a year, competition is very fierce. The winners are usually established researchers who are well known to the public. You cannot nominate yourself, so your chances depend on someone submitting a convincing and well-reasoned recommendation on your behalf. In practice, the award tends to recognise sustained, outstanding achievements in science communication rather than one-off efforts.