JOURNALISM DIVISION WINNERS

FIRST PLACE

India Mackinson: The Mystery Ship off Pappy Lane

SECOND PLACE

Elizabeth Fernandez: Earth’s Magnetic Field Supports Biblical Stories of Destruction of Ancient Cities

THIRD PLACE

Dan DiNicola: An Angler-Inspired Approach: How Descending Devices Can Save North Carolina’s Reef Fish

HONORABLE MENTION: 

Misha Angrist: Let’s Bring the Informed Consent Process Out of the Shadows

INSTITUTIONAL DIVISION WINNERS

FIRST PLACE

Michael Penn: Eyes on a Miracle

SECOND PLACE

Dan Vahaba: Air Pollution and Stress Alters Brains and Social Behavior of Male Mice

THIRD PLACE

Ken Kingery: Engineering the End of Forever

HONORABLE MENTION: 

Andrew Moore: Transforming Data Into Conservation

LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

RUSS CAMPBELL

Russ Campbell was there in the beginning, he was with us at every big step along the way, and he’s still with us.

In addition to all the first-place SCONC trophies handed out at the SCONCIE awards party, Russ, the senior communications officer of the Burroughs-Wellcome Fund and our longest of long-time supporters and connectors, was awarded a Lifetime Achievement skunk.

“But I’m not dead,” he protested.

Russ was there when a handful of science communicators from Sigma Xi, Duke and UNC first started batting around the idea of forming a club in 2007. “Yes,” he said, “let’s do it.” He says that a lot.

Through more than 15 years now, and all the twists and turns of SOCNC’s fate – departures, arrivals, national conferences and SCONC-rich conferences in other places – Russ was always there. His support and encouragement has been a huge part of all of our successes.

Russ helped support ScienceOnline, our mid-aughts international conference for science bloggers and SciComm on social media. He was the first to say yes when the organizers of the traveling national ScienceWriters conference wanted to return to the Triangle in 2012. And last year, when the organization finally decided to become official and file the 501c3 paperwork, he asked “How can I help?” 

This year, he also helped us secure living allowances for our ten HBCU Summer scicomm interns, making it possible for more students to afford trying their hand at science communication. We’ve been creating opportunities, making new friends and connections, and bonding over our love of sharing science with everyone and “Uncle Russ” has always been there.

Thanks for everything Russ!