(WASHINGTON, DC -- June 2, 1998) -- The Whitaker Foundation, a private nonprofit organization supporting biomedical research and education, has announced it will continue to fund the AAAS Science Journalism Awards through 2001.
The Whitaker Foundation has funded the competition since 1995. Since the competition's inception in 1945, more than 300 individuals have been honored for their significant achievements in the field of science reporting in the categories of newspapers, television, and radio.
"The foundation recognizes that most Americans learn about science and engineering primarily from the news media," said Miles J. Gibbons, Jr., president of the Whitaker Foundation. "By setting high standards, the AAAS awards help inspire reporters to do their best. And from that, we all benefit."
"The awards have brought well-deserved recognition to science journalists for more than 50 years," said Richard S. Nicholson, executive officer of AAAS. "Continued support from the Whitaker Foundation is testimony to the strength and stature of the competition."
Independent screening and judging committees comprised of scientists and science journalists select the winning entries. The winners are honored during the AAAS annual meeting at the annual banquet of the National Association of Science Writers. The winning entries are published each year and used as teaching tools in science writing programs at universities and colleges throughout the country.
The deadline for entering the 1998 competition is August 1. Entries must be produced and published or broadcast in the U.S. The contest year is July 1, 1997 through June 30, 1998.
Headquartered in Rosslyn, Virginia, the Whitaker Foundation promotes the use of engineering to solve medical problems. It currently supports nearly 422 research projects, 142 graduate fellows, and 80 education and internship programs at colleges and universities in the United States and Canada. The foundation was established in 1975 upon the death of Uncas A. Whitaker, founder of AMP Incorporated, the world's largest manufacturer of electrical connectors and connecting devices.
The Association is the world's largest federation of scientists. It publishes the peer-reviewed journal Science and conducts a variety of programs in the areas of science policy, education, and international cooperation. It also administers EurekAlert! www.eurekalert.org, the online news service featuring the latest research in science, medicine, and technology.
Editor's note: For a contest entry form, rules, and guidelines, please contact the AAAS News and Information Office at 202-326-6440, or send an email to media@aaas.org. The entry form is also available at www.aaas.org/communications/awards.htm.