image: PCST Award Organisers, Winners and Runners-up. Left-to-right, top-to-bottom: Brook Smith, Susanne Hecker, Lilian Fischer, Fabien Medvecky (PCST Secretary), Alice Fleerackers (PCST Vice-President), Bruce Lewenstein, Sook-kyoung Cho (PCST President), Toss Gascoigne.
Credit: PCST Network
The Network for the Public Communication of Science and Technology (PCST) has announced the results of its inaugural PCST Award competition, recognizing exceptional contributions to the advancement of science communication as a professional field. The winners were revealed during the closing session of the PCST 2025 Conference, held in Aberdeen, Scotland at P&J Live from May 27 to 29.
The top prize was awarded to Professor Bruce Lewenstein of Cornell University (USA), honoring his decades-long impact on science communication research, education, and professional infrastructure worldwide. Susana Herrera-Lima (Mexico) and Toss Gascoigne (Australia) were named runners-up for their transformative work in building science communication capacity and influence in their respective regions and worldwide.
The PCST Award is generously supported by the GIST Graduate School of AI Policy and Strategy (Republic of Korea). The winner received a cash prize of 1,500 USD, and each runner-up received 700 USD.
“As the world’s largest network of science communication professionals, PCST is proud to recognize those who not only engage the public but also strengthen the profession itself,” said Sook-kyoung Cho, President of the PCST Network and Professor at KENTECH (Korea Institute of Energy Technology). “With support from GIST AIX School, this award helps spotlight the often-unseen efforts to build infrastructure, community, and standards in science communication worldwide.”
A Life Devoted to Building the Field
Prof. Bruce Lewenstein, this year’s winner, is a professor in the Departments of Science and Technology Studies and Communication at Cornell University.
“My work deliberately seeks to link research and practice, reflecting my commitment to making public communication of science and technology a profession that matters in the world,” said Lewenstein. “I’m deeply honored to be the first recipient of this new award, especially for the messages from former students thanking me for inspiring them. As the current attacks on reliable knowledge and scientific institutions suggest, the field needs to continue developing both in fundamental understanding and in best practices for how to help people better understand all the complexities of science and its intertwining with the rest of society.”
Although the award focuses on contributions from the past ten years, Prof. Lewenstein’s professional contribution to science communication lasts much longer. He has been teaching science communication at Cornell since 1987, and has led and collaborated on seminal contributions to science communication as a research field. He also played a key role in establishing the PCST Network itself.
Runners-Up: Global Champions of the Profession
Prof. Susana Herrera-Lima has been instrumental in strengthening the field of science communication in Mexico and Latin America through the formation of professional programs and networks, theoretical innovation, and the promotion of practices to expand the reach and relevant social impact of science communication.
She played a fundamental role in establishing and consolidating formal training for science communicators through academic programs, as she coordinated the Master in Science and Culture Communication at ITESO — the only specific graduate program in Mexico and a leading degree in Latin America. She has also contributed to the expansion of training programs, such as the Science Communication Diploma at the Universidad Veracruzana, and has mentored researchers across Mexico and Latin America. She is a key member of SOMEDICyT, RedPOP, and PCST, where she has actively fostered regional and international collaboration. In addition, Herrera-Lima is a founding member of the editorial board of the Journal of Science Communication (JCOM) Latin America and of the 20-year-old Café Scientifique ITESO.
Toss Gascoigne is recognized as a key figure behind Communicating Science: A Global Perspective. The book has been downloaded 70,000 times since it was published by ANU Press in 2020 and represents the first systematic documentation of how modern science communication has developed around the world. The culmination of seven years of work, the book sheds light on science communication activities across 39 countries, in chapters contributed by 107 authors. The book describes the key moments and the debates as countries found their individual pathways to setting up events, training courses and government programs to maximise the possibilities of science.
“I loved receiving the draft chapters—so many stories, from crocodiles in Kenya to a Guinness Book of Records in Russia!” says Gascoigne. “This award belongs to all the authors, all the members of the Editorial Board.”
In addition to his work on Communicating Science, Gascoigne was PCST’s inaugural President, and has played a pivotal role in internationalizing the Network and democratizing its leadership structure.
Shortlisted Candidates: Six Exceptional Contributors
In addition to Lewenstein, Herrera-Lima, and Gascoigne, the 2025 shortlist included Liliann Fischer (Germany), Susanne Hecker (Germany), and Brooke Smith (USA). These outstanding individuals were selected for their sustained efforts to raise the profile and impact of science communication.
Future of the PCST Award
Established in 2024, the PCST Award recognises and honours efforts that:
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Support professional development of science communicators and build science communication infrastructure;
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Increase the prestige of the profession of science communicator and raise public awareness of its importance; and
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Support the professional culture of science communication.
“The scope of the award is intentionally broad,” said Dr. Alexandra Borissova Saleh, PCST Treasurer and Executive Secretary of the Award. “We welcome nominations for degree programs, policy influence, professional networks, and major research contributions. This prize recognizes the architects of our field—not just the voices, but the builders.”
Alongside Borissova Saleh, the award is coordinated by a PCST Scientific Committee working group that includes Dr. Germana Barata (Brazil), Dr. Heather Doran (UK), Prof. Joan Leach (Australia), Prof. Nan Li (USA), and Prof. Fabien Medvecky (Australia). The award Jury includes the members of the PCST Scientific Committee as well as PCST Life Members.
Nominations for the 2027 Award (to be announced at the 2027 PCST Conference in Shanghai) will open in mid-2026. Individuals and small groups may self-nominate or be nominated by colleagues. All candidates and nominators must be PCST members.
For detailed eligibility requirements, please consult the PCST Award Policy and Guidelines: https://www.pcst.network
About the Sponsor: GIST AIX School
The GIST Graduate School of AI Policy and Strategy, based in the Republic of Korea, supports interdisciplinary education and leadership in AI-related fields. Its mission is to harness AI for global challenges through rigorous academic training, strategic thinking, and applied innovation. The School maintains global partnerships with leading companies, research institutes, and universities to provide students with hands-on experience in shaping the future of AI policy and governance.