The Joshua Phillips Award for Innovation in Science Engagement (The Josh Award) is an award established to recognise and support up-and-coming talent in science communication.
Each year, a winner will receive support to nurture their development in the field and their involvement in Manchester Science Festival. The Award will recognise creativity, vision and innovation in science communication, and contribute to the professionalization of the field.
The Award provides the opportunity to be science communicator in residence at Manchester Science Festival; developing and delivering a new project or event for the Festival and show-casing best practise.
Nominations for the sixth Josh Award are now open.
Aim of the Award
To recognise up-and-coming talent in science communication through an award scheme, nurture their development in the field and support their involvement in Manchester Science Festival.
Objectives
• To recognise one outstanding contributor to science communication each year.
• To assist them in the development of an innovative project or event for Manchester Science Festival as Science Communicator in Residence and award them a personal budget for this.
• To support their development through networking and skills training.
Who is the Award for?
Science communication practitioners with up to three years experience. Science communicators can be full-time, part-time, or practise science communication through various aspects of their jobs, e.g. as a researcher at a University.
The nominee will be involved in practical development and delivery of activities, events and activities inspiring audiences with science. They must have the ambition to become a professional science communicator.
We welcome applications from individuals and groups. All nominees must have less than three years experience in the field at the application deadline.
The Award is open to anyone involved in science communication in the UK (and is a UK resident).
About MSF and MOSI
The mission of the Museum of Science and Industry (MOSI) is to explore where science met industry and the modern world began, to understand the impact that Manchester science, technology and innovation continues to have on everybody.
Manchester Science Festival is a nine day celebration of science. People are invited to play, create and experiment with science through beautiful installations, immersive science experiences, intriguing evening events, inspiring talks and debates, hands-on workshops and more. Manchester Science Festival is proudly produced by MOSI.
MOSI and MSF are dedicated to supporting new talent in science communication and the professionalisation the field. The Josh Award provides a platform to recognise and support full time communicators or scientists who wish to pursue a career in science communication.
About Josh
The Award is inspired by and named in memory of Josh Phillips, MOSI’s first Science Communication Officer, who died in November 2006. Josh was a much loved, much respected and highly talented science communicator whose outstanding career is commemorated with this award.
The Award
The winner will receive the following:
• Recognition for winning the Award.
• Role as Manchester Science Festival Science Communicator in Residence for one year. This means you receive the support of the Manchester Science Festival team, staff at MOSI and previous Josh Award winners to develop and deliver an innovative and new project or event at Manchester Science Festival 2013.
• Up to £1000 to develop this project or event with Manchester Science Festival (this budget will be agreed and held by MOSI).
• The opportunity to attend the BIG conference (conference fee paid) to network with a diverse range of science communicators from across the sector.
• Up to £500 personal expenses budget.
Nominees must be available to develop and deliver a project/event for Manchester Science Festival (in agreement with the team) and act as Science Communicator in Residence at the Manchester Science Festival, which will take place late October 2013.
Process
• Nominations open November 2012.
• Nominations must be made using the attached nomination form and e-mailed to s.trinder@mosi.org.uk by 5pm on Monday 28 January 2013.
• Nominations will be considered by a selection panel, whose decision is final, and the 2013 winner will be notified by the end of February 2013.
For full information download the Call for nominations (PDF 254kb) and the Nomination form (Word 5MB).
Matt Parker was awarded the Josh Award in 2011. He impressed the judges with his extensive work in promoting Maths and will join Manchester Science Festival as the Science Communicator in Residence for 2012.
Previous winners Chris Smith from the Naked Scientists, Karen Bultitude from UWE, Bristol, David Price from Science Made Simple and Steve Cross from UCL.