This year’s winners of the John Maddox Prize and Early Career Award are two scientists who have been tenacious in highlighting the threat posed by climate change — sometimes in the face of hostility.
The Maddox prize — presented by Nature and Sense About Science — went to Virginia Burkett, the author of around 100 scientific publications about wetlands, climate change, and coastal systems.
She was recognised for her efforts to improve understanding of the impact of climate change on ecosystems, and her insistence that these impacts are appropriately and honestly represented.
And it was a double celebration as shortly after the announcement, Virginia received the news that she was a grand-mother for the fifth time.
The Early Career prize was won by Nicolás Zanetta-Colombo, a Chilean scientist working at Heidelberg University. He was nominated for his exceptional efforts to engage communities living near copper mines in Chile to fill data gaps in the research and documentation of heavy metal impacts on the surrounding environment.
He was nominated for his courage in the face of opposition to both the engagement of the community and the emerging evidence, and the potential for the long-term impact of this work.
Scientists intimidated
Tracey Brown, director of Sense about Science said, “The Maddox Prize highlights the damage done to society when good research is suppressed and when scientists are intimidated from contributing to public discussion.
“This year’s courageous winners have insisted on the public’s access to evidence. The prize celebrates their work, but the best recognition would be for all of us – from politicians and university leaders to social media commentators — to start defending researchers who bring evidence to difficult issues, regardless of whether it fits our views.”
Celebrated
Magdalena Skipper, Editor in Chief of Nature commented, “This year’s winners of the Standing up for Science — John Maddox Nature Award have made key contributions to promoting science that is both globally and locally relevant. Their work deserves to be rewarded and celebrated.”
The judges also highlighted the importance of accurate data collection and the misuse of statistics in health and other fields with the nominations of the UK’s only finalist, Professor Alice Sullivan, from University College London and Professor Richard Gill, a British-born mathematician and statistician now based at Leiden University in the Netherlands.