CSWA Awards

The Canadian Science Writers’ Association honours the year’s best science journalism published in newspapers and magazines, and broadcast on television and the radio. There are also two book awards and an award for emerging journalists.

CSWA Announces Outstanding Canadian Science Books Published in 2012

The Canadian Science Writers’ Association offers two $1000 annual book awards to honour outstanding contributions to science writing 1) intended for and available to children/middle grades ages 8-12 years, and 2) intended for and available to the general public for books that were published in Canada during the 2012 calendar year.

The general audience book winner is Fatal Flaws by Jay Ingram. The youth book winner is the Big Green Book about the Big Blue Sea by Helaine Becker. Entries were judged on the basis of initiative, originality, scientific accuracy, clarity of interpretation and value in promoting a better understanding of science by the public.

The judges appreciated the way Jay Ingram brought excellent plain language story telling to an exceedingly complex topic in Fatal Flaws.

“The structure drove me forward as a reader. Good use of verbal imagery.”

Another judge said, “This book is well written and does not require a scientific background. The flow is good. The book provides a great overview of the status of prion diseases and does not fall into sensationalism.”

 

 

 

Clarity and the ability to engage the audience with a complex topic were also important factors when the judges considered The Big Green Book of the Big Blue Sea by Helaine Becker.

One judge commented that it is, “Clearly written with lots of information and discuses topics about the ocean and what happens in oceans. Well thought out, activities are good and relate well to the content being presented.

Great use of experiments and observation. A good book for younger kids.”

 

The younger judges from grades 4 and 6 agreed, “I liked this book because it had many interesting experiments. I even did one myself.”  “I really liked the experiments and it was very

informative.”

 

The judges recommended an honourable mention go to Bébés Illimités by Dominique Forget in the general audience category. They said it was, “Well written. Well researched. Thoughtful: asks questions about the ethical and practical implications of the practices described.”

 

 

 

 

The winners will be presented with their awards during the CSWA annual conference in Montreal at the gala and awards banquet on June 7.

Herb Lampert Emerging Journalist Award

closed

The Herb Lampert Emerging Journalist Award

is open to any student or newly practicing

journalist who has a science article published

in print, broadcast or online during 2011.

 

Competitors must be Canadian citizens or residents

of Canada. The award is presented for original

material disseminated – in French or English –

during the 2012 calendar year.

The award will be presented during the CSWA

annual conference. 

Science In Society Awards

closed

Science in Society Awards for original material disseminated – in French or English print or broadcast – during the 2012 calendar year.

The awards

The Canadian Science Writers’ Association offers awards annually to honour outstanding contributions to journalism in Canadian print and broadcast media. Competitors must be Canadian citizens or residents of Canada.

Print entries must have appeared in a Canadian publication aimed at the general public. Electronic entries must have been aired on a cable or broadcast system licensed in Canada.

These awards are presented for original material disseminated – in French or English print or broadcast – during the 2012 calendar year. The awards will be presented at the upcoming CSWA annual conference.

Sanofi Pasteur Medal For Excellence In Health Research Journalism

closed

“Most people, most of the time, learn most of what they know outside the classroom.” – George Tressel (1990)

Presented By Canadians For Health Research

Canadians for Health Research (CHR) and Sanofi Pasteur are pleased to announce the Sanofi Pasteur Medal for Excellence in Health Research Journalism. The creation of this national award is intended to highlight the pivotal role that journalists play in raising public awareness of the importance of health research in Canada. The award consists of a medal plus a $2,500 bursary.

 

PAST SCIENCE IN SOCIETY AWARDS:

The Canadian Science Writers’ Association has announced the winners of the national Science in Society Journalism Awards competition to honour outstanding contributions to journalism in the Canadian media during the 2011 calendar year. Each award carries a $1,000 prize value.

The Science in Society Journalism Awards banquet to honour the winners wAS held Saturday, June 2, 2012 at the CSWA annual conference in Windsor, Ontario.

PRINT Less than 1,600 Words:
Winner: “Salvation or Slippery Slope” by Sharon Kirkey, Post Media News

Judges comments:

“Kirkey offers readers a clear, polished and compelling explanation of a controversial and nuanced subject. It is a near-effortless read – almost like eating chocolate. Can we have more?”

“Both the key themes are of universal interest: pain and aging are of concern to every reader, and so is the formulation of public policy. The link between the two, and their relevance to readership, is maintained and reinforced throughout, and emphasized again in the closing paragraphs. The author does an exemplary job of setting out the impact of science and policy on the lives of sufferers.”

RADIO Items Under 30 Minutes:
Winner: “Exercise & The Aging Brain” Jim Lebans, Bob McDonald, Mark Crawley, Quirks and Quarks

Judges comments:

“My comment is in the form of a personal classified ad to continue with the humourous take adopted in the program: “Bicycling baby boomer exercising to keep his body in good shape and to reduce some cardio problems is looking for a toned-up brain for better blood flow and more plasticity. If interested, listen to “Exercise & the Aging Brain” on CBC Radio one.”

TELEVISION Items Less than 30 Minutes:
Winner: “La Sclerose en Plaques”France Desourdy and Claude D’Astous, Decouverte

Judges comments:

“People, scientists and patients alike can relate to this information. It is presented succinctly and provides the facts without giving false hope.”

THE HERB LAMPERT EMERGING JOURNALIST AWARD Winner: “Final Verdict” by Tyler Irving, Canadian Chemical News

Judges comments:

“It was informative and interesting, as well as being a good read.”

“It really engages everyone, including non-scientific types, to pay close attention to the subject matter.”

CSWA Announces Best Canadian Science Books Published in 2011

The general audience book winner is Cascadia’s Fault by Jerry Thompson.

 

 

 

 

 

The youth book winner is 50 Poisonous Questions by Tanya Lloyd Kyi.

 

 

 

 

 

Entries were judged on the basis of initiative, originality, scientific accuracy, clarity of interpretation and value in promoting a better understanding of science by the public.

Both of this year’s books appealed to the judges because they created a sense of mystery and discovery. Commenting on Cascadia’s Fault one judge said, “The writing was masterful and it read almost like a novel. I never felt bogged down in details, and yet the science about earthquakes was all there along with the controversies, descriptions of the sources, and stories about the people.”

The youth judges were equally enthusiastic about 50 Poisonous Questions, “There were very interesting facts that I didn’t know about and the explanations were easy to understand.” “It was a book I didn’t want to put down until I finished the whole book.” “It was a really fun book.”

38th Annual Science in Society Journalism Award winners

Toronto, Ontario, 2010 – The Canadian Science Writers’ Association has announced the winners of the national Science in Society Journalism Awards competition to honour outstanding contributions to journalism in the Canadian media during the 2009 calendar year. Each award carries a $1,000 prize value.

The 38th annual Science in Society Journalism Awards banquet to honour the winners will be held Saturday, June 5, 2010 at the Canada Science and Technology Museum in Ottawa ON.

PRINT Less than 1,600 Words:
Winner: Megan Ogilvie, “The Price of Eggs,” The Toronto Star, November 21, 2009.

RADIO Items Under 30 Minutes:
Winner: Pauline Dakin, “The Forgotten Cancer,” CBC National News, The World Report and The World at Six, aired July 6,7, and 8, 2009.

TELEVISION Items Less than 30 Minutes:
Winner: Hélène Naud and Louise Beaudoin, “La Hanche Bionique,” Découverte, October 25, 2009.

THE HERB LAMPERT EMERGING JOURNALIST AWARD Winner: Megan Haynes, “Space Junk Threatens Canadian Satellites,” Capital News Online, March 20, 2009.

2009 Science in Society Book Awards

The Canadian Science Writers’ Association offers two $1,000 annual book awards to honour outstanding contributions to science writing 1) intended for and available to children and youth under 16 and 2) intended for and available to the general public

WINNERS ANNOUNCED
Toronto, April 21, 2010 — The Canadian Science Writers’ Association has announced its winners for books published in Canada in 2009 and entered in the national Science in Society Book Awards competition in two categories: 1) Youth under 16 years and 2) General Audience Books.

Winner, Youth Book under 16 Years: Carol McDougall, A Salmon’s Sky View, First Choice Books. (Honorable Mention: Cora Lee, The Great Motion Mission: A Surprising Story of Physics in Everyday Life, Annick Press.)

Winner, General Audience: Ed Struzik, The Big Thaw: Travels In the Melting North, John Wiley & Sons Canada.

The banquet to honor the 2009 winners will be held Saturday evening, June 5, 2010, in the Locomotive Room of the Canada Science and Technology Museum in Ottawa ON in conjunction with the CSWA’s 39th annual conference, At a Crossroads: Science Communication in the Digital Age.

2009 Sanofi Pasteur Medal

Heartfelt Account Wins Journalism Award. Envisioning better strategies for dealing with cardiac disease
Montreal May 26, 2010 – Our ability to mend damaged and diseased hearts came a long way in the 20th century, as procedures such as coronary bypass procedures became common, life-saving operations. If the work being conducted at Toronto’s McEwan Centre for Regenerative Medicine is any indication, we can expect even more dramatic progress to dominate the 21st century.

Macleans magazine writer Kate Lunau has foreshadowed that progress in an article that has earned her this year’s sanofi pasteur Medal For Excellence In Health Research Journalism. “Growing a new heart,” which appeared in the publication’s 25 February 2009 issue, provides an introduction to promising techniques for regenerating and replacing heart cells as a way of treating ailments in this organ. The field represents a complex branch of biotechnology that readers might otherwise find daunting, but Ms. Lunau’s treatment of the subject makes for compelling reading.

“She has made a challenging piece of medical research entirely accessible,” says CHR president, Patricia Guyda. “This work is an example of how good writing and good reporting can take an audience to places they might never venture. And in this case, we all want to venture there, because this news about the future of treating heart disease is inspirational.”

That perspective was shared by the panel of scientists and writers who judged the winning entry. They praised the way Ms. Lunau was able to encourage an understanding of basic biology in order to foster an appreciation of the significant challenges that are now being overcome by cardiac researchers.

CHR launched the sanofi pasteur Medal in 1995, and administers the selection process. Sponsored by sanofi pasteur, Canada’s premier vaccine company, the inaugural medal recipient was Globe and Mail science reporter Stephen Strauss for his longstanding contribution to promoting public awareness of science. Other recent awardees include Mark Witten from Canadian Living, and Marcia Kaye from More magazine.

“As a company that is built on nearly a century of science, sanofi pasteur is pleased to be associated with this prestigious award that recognizes excellence in science journalism,” says Nancy Simpson, Director, Communications at sanofi pasteur Canada.
Dr. Eileen Macallum, Associate Vice President Quality Operations, Sanofi Pasteur Limited, will present the award to Ms. Lunau on June 5 during the Canadian Science Writers’ Association annual general meeting in Ottawa, Ontario. Ms. Lunau will receive a commemorative medal and a $2,500 bursary.

Canadians for Health Research (CHR) is a nonprofit organization committed to promoting the stability and quality of Canadian health research.  It fosters communication between health researchers, the government and the Canadian public, and publishes a quarterly magazine entitled Future Health.  For more information, or to become a member, please visit the CHR website at http://www.chrcrm.org

Sanofi-aventis, a leading global pharmaceutical company, discovers, develops and distributes therapeutic solutions to improve the lives of everyone. Sanofi-aventis is listed in Paris (EURONEXT: SAN) and in New York (NYSE: SNY).

Sanofi Pasteur, the vaccines division of sanofi-aventis Group, provided more than a 1.6 billion doses of vaccine in 2008, making it possible to immunize more than 500 million people across the globe. A world leader in the vaccine industry, sanofi pasteur offers the broadest range of vaccines protecting against 20 infectious diseases. The company’s heritage, to create vaccines that protect life, dates back more than a century. Sanofi Pasteur is the largest company entirely dedicated to vaccines. Every day, the company invests more than EUR1 million in research and development. For more information, please visit: www.sanofipasteur.com.

2010 Yves Fortier Award

Entries for the Yves Fortier Award may deal with a broad spectrum of earth science topics, ranging from earth to ocean and atmosphere. They are judged generally on the basis of originality , clarity of interpretation, scientific accuracy and value in promoting a broader understanding of earth sciences by the public.

Winner: Randy Boswell of CanWest News Service, for his article “Lost World” (GAC Press release)

For more information, please visit the Geological Association of Canada

Sanofi Pasteur Medal For Excellence In Health Research Journalism: When remedies go wrong

Researchers come to grips with how helpful drugs can harm

 

Montreal May 26, 2011 — A mother taking well known pain relievers ends up giving her infant a fatal morphine overdose through her breast milk. A toddler taking cough syrup after getting his tonsils out develops a fever and stops breathing. Drugs intended to comfort children or even save their lives can sometimes kill them instead, leaving parents as well as prescribing physicians frustrated and puzzled. Researchers are now unraveling the subtle genetic roots of these tragedies, with the hope of identifying those patients who are most at risk before they receive any medication.

Writing in Today’s Parent magazine, Mark Witten outlines the challenge of trying to understand what happens in the body when a particular gene processes safe and approved medicines in unexpected ways. His work is being honoured with this year’s Sanofi Pasteur Medal For Excellence In Health Research Journalism. “Heal or Harm? The Truth About Prescription Drugs,” which appeared in the publication’s October 2010 issue, explains how modest levels of codeine in some products can be quickly metabolized as morphine in some individuals.

“The author captured our attention with a seemingly isolated story and quickly brought out statistics of the widespread nature of the issue,” stated one of the judges for the medal competition. “This showed the clear impact of biomedical research — identifying a problem, developing a research program and ultimately simple tests.”

Another judge put the point even more bluntly: “Readers of this story were also given valuable health research and consumer information — and questions they should be asking physicians and nurses before giving their children medications.”

Nor is codeine the only medication they should ask about. According to Witten’s account, each year more than 2,500 Canadian children die — and many others are left hurt or disabled — after reacting to ibuprofen, antibiotics, corticosteroids, and even chemo-therapeutic drugs intended to keep cancer at bay.

“This is a narrative that reveals what we now know to be entirely preventable tragedies,” says CHR president, Patricia Guyda. “So often we read about genetic investigations of one sort or another, and we rightly wonder what will come of them. Witten’s reporting tells us just that, making an invaluable contribution to our appreciation of how research benefits Canadians.”

CHR launched the Sanofi Pasteur Medal in 1995, and administers the selection process. Sponsored by Sanofi Pasteur Ltd., Canada’s premier vaccine company, the inaugural medal recipient was Globe and Mail science reporter Stephen Strauss for his longstanding contribution to promoting public awareness of science. Other recent awardees include Michael Smith from University Affairs and Peggy Curran from the Montreal Gazette.

“As a company that is built on nearly a century of science, Sanofi Pasteur is pleased to be associated with this prestigious award that recognizes excellence in science journalism,” says Nancy Simpson, Director, Communications at Sanofi Pasteur Canada.

She will present the award to Mr. Witten on June 11 during the Canadian Science Writers’ Association annual conference in Calgary, ALberta, where Mr. Witten will receive a commemorative medal and $2,500 bursary.