NASEM · · Instrument: Prize
National Academies Eric and Wendy Schmidt Awards for Excellence in Science Communications
Schmidt Sciences funds these awards in partnership with the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. They recognize individuals working in science communication, science journalism or research, across eight categories: freelance journalists, early-career journalists, local and regional science reporting, graduate student researchers, early-career researchers, later-career researchers, independent science communicators and organizational science communicators. Work examples for the 2026 cycle had to be published or released in 2025 and be in English. In 2026 the program conferred 24 awards totaling $640,000, made up of 16 prizes of $20,000 and 8 top prizes of $40,000. Submissions were accepted from March 2 to April 3, 2026 and winners were announced October 26, 2026, with a winner workshop and recognition event planned in Washington, DC in November 2026.
Who can apply
- Eligibility
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- Funding
2026 awards
24 awards totaling $640,000 (16 prizes of $20,000, 8 top prizes of $40,000)
nationalacademies.org
Funding classification
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Round history
| Round | Window | Size | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 awards | March 2, 2026 to April 3, 2026Closed | 24 awards totaling $640,000 (16 prizes of $20,000, 8 top prizes of $40,000) | nationalacademies.org |
Past rounds stay on the page, so you can see how often this program opens.
Funding evidence
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Awards
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