Photographer unknown (Nikon D60)

Photographer unknown (Nikon D60)

The Science Educator Award recognizes a distinguished individual or organization on the basis of outstanding contributions to science education or to the public understanding of science, engineering, or technology.

2012 Awardees

Pamely Gay, Ph.D. - Assistant Research Professor, Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville

Pamela is a world leader in citizen science and the use of new media in astronomy education with an international following for her innovative podcasts, blogs and articles. (She is co-host of Astronomy Cast, consistently listed in the top 25 Science & Medicine section of the iTunes Library.) She is doing pioneering research on motivations in citizen science and serves as an empowering mentor for the undergraduate and graduate students on her research team. Dr. Gay is sought out by the most prestigious astronomy conferences in the world to serve as an invited speaker; equally she is sought after by top astronomy researchers who wish to collaborate with her to promote their science to the general public.

Michael W. Friedlander, Ph.D. - Emeritus Professor of Physics, Washington University

For more than four decades, Michael has played a major role in science education. Since 1994, each semester he has organized a series of four "Saturday Science" public lectures in the Washington University Physics Department. The 200-seat lecture hall is often filled. Beyond the region, Michael has been an influence for science understanding nationally with five books published, all well written for the general public. The two published by Harvard University Press describe the history of the study of cosmic rays and what is now known about these energetic particles--anarea of astrophysics to which he has contributed significant original research.

Past Award Recipients: Young Scientist Program, Washington University in St. Louis (2011); Harold H. Harris, Ph.D. (2010); Victoria Lynn May (2009); Harold R. Messler, B.S. (2008) and John Ridgen, Ph.D. (2008); Patrick L. Osborne, Ph.D. (2007); Kenneth Mares, Ph.D. (2006); Robert A. Williams, Ph.D. (2005); Paul H. Young, M.D. and William L. McConnell (2004)