Award for Communication for outreach and creating awareness of science, engineering, technology and innovation

The SAASTA Science Communication Award is intended to encourage South African researchers, writers, educators and communicators (including journalists) to promote SET though conventional and/or innovative means, in order to "

• Raise public awareness of SET issues;
• Raise public awareness of how the quality of people's daily lives are affected by such issues;
• Raise public awareness of the opportunities for getting involved in SET issues;
• Raise public awareness of career opportunities in SET; and/or
• Engage the public in SET in innovative ways.

The award is open to anyone who has had articles published in any South African print medium, and/or had insert broadcasts on any South African radio or television programme, and/or who has communicated Science and Technology regularly in other innovative ways (i.e. drama, cartoons, exhibitions, public lectures) during the past 5 years or less.

Entries may include communicating on the life, physical and/or social sciences, engineering and/or mathematics, as well as policy, health and environmental issues related to Science and Technology.

Quality of communication
The Award is intended to recognise a communicator who has made an outstanding contribution to Science and Technology through making a substantial impact in terms of public awareness. The communicator’s approach must be innovative, objective, responsible and scientifically correct. He/she must also have succeeded at communicating through accessible and appropriate means which inspire and interest the public. The award winning communicator/researcher's work should promote knowledge and an understanding of controversial or complex issues.

Any awards for science communication and/or grants received for public awareness projects (i.e. National Science Week) should be mentioned in the nomination forms.

Method and quality of delivery
The communicator must use innovative and diverse but appropriate approaches in his/her communication to public audiences.

A portfolio of communication interventions and products as well as documentation to support the communication activities must accompany the nomination forms.

Reach of communication
The reach of the nominee's public communication should be demonstrable. The communication should preferably include diverse audiences.

Copies of the articles/programmes/books/or videos/DVDs of the performances which provide evidence of the nominee's work, should accompany the nomination forms submitted to the NSTF.

Last updated: 23 August 2010