2025 book awards Jury Panel |
General Award |
Émilie Michaud
Émilie Michaud is a PhD candidate in digital inclusion, public action, and mediation at INRS-Centre Urbanisation Culture Société in Quebec, where she also works as a research assistant. She holds a master's degree in public communication, during which she focused on administrative literacy. Her areas of interest are State-citizen communication, writing studies, and digital inclusion: let’s say, she love when texts are simple and understandable. Knowledge transfer and scientific communication are her middle names. Her PhD project focuses on support for online administrative procedures and the mediation of State-citizen relations through this support. Professional writer (rédactrice agréée), trail runner, collage artist, avid reader and amateur pastry chef are also identities she embraces😊 Follow Émilie on: LinkedIn Chloe Rexdiemer
Chloe Rexdiemer is a communications and marketing professional specializing in health, science and technology. She holds an Honours Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) in Psychology, Neuroscience & Behaviour from McMaster University, along with a Certificate in Digital Marketing. During her undergraduate studies, she developed an interest in scientific writing and editing, completing an eight-month capstone project in science communication in the behavioural sciences. With a focus on content development and community engagement, Chloe is passionate about making complex topics engaging and accessible to diverse audiences. Follow Chloe on: LinkedIn
| Elissa Strome
Follow Elissa on: LinkedIn Amy Lemay
Follow Amy at vistast.com |
For the past 8 years, Elissa Strome has been the Executive Director of the Pan-Canadian Artificial Intelligence Strategy at the Canadian Institute for Advanced Research (CIFAR). She works with leaders at Canada’s three National AI Institutes in Edmonton (Amii), Montreal (Mila), and Toronto (Vector Institute) and across the country to advance Canada’s leadership in AI research, training and innovation. She is a champion of equity, diversity and inclusion in science, and an ambassador for Canada’s position in AI research, innovation, and policy internationally. Elissa holds a PhD in Neuroscience from the University of British Columbia and has spent her career in research strategy, policy and communications. Previously, she spent nearly a decade at the Office of the Vice-President, Research and Innovation at the University of Toronto, advancing university-wide strategic research initiatives. She has recently earned her second-degree black belt in taekwondo.
Amy is the Founder of VISTA Science & Technology Inc. As a science analyst, she provides strategic advice to the Canadian agrifood sector for accelerating the discovery, development, commercialization, acceptance and adoption of agri-innovations. Amy is also an independent researcher, working on novel approaches for agricultural knowledge translation and transfer (AgKTT) that improve the impacts of agrifood research. She has a PhD in the sociology of science from the University of Toronto, M.Sc. in agricultural entomology and B.Sc.Agr. in environmental biology from the University of Guelph. Amy is an Adjunct Professor in the Department of Geography & Tourism and the Environmental Sustainability Research Centre and a Fellow of the Cool Climate Oenology & Viticulture Institute at Brock University. She lives in the Niagara Region with her husband and loves spending time at her dock on the Welland River.Child and Youth Award
Rochelle Strauss
Follow Rochelle on: LinkedIn | IG: @rochellestraussauthor | Bluesky: @rochellestrauss.bsky.social Nikki Berreth
Nikki lives on the West Coast with her partner, giant dog, and tiny human. When she's not reading, she's gardening or baking. She spends her days working for a local First Nation in the realm of Science Communication and Knowledge Translation. She loves the SWCC Book Awards because it introduces her to new ideas and styles of communicating science! | Laura Salisbury
Salisbury is a science communicator and graphic designer based in Ontario, working at the intersection of research, design, and public engagement. Her background in geomatics and graphic design shapes her freelance work, which includes museum exhibit graphics, explainer videos, and outreach materials for educational and research organizations. She is especially drawn to projects that spark curiosity and invite people to explore big ideas—including science books! Outside of work, she enjoys fitness classes, learning new art techniques, and following wherever curiosity leads next. Follow Laura on: LinkedIn | laurasalisbury.ca Jana Levison
Jana Levison is a professional engineer, and holds a bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering (environmental option) and a Ph.D. in Civil Engineering (focus: groundwater resources). She is a Professor in the College of Engineering (Department of Civil, Environmental and Water Resources Engineering and Morwick G360 Groundwater Research Institute) at the University of Guelph. She is also the inaugural Doody Family Chair for Women in Engineering (2022-2027). Previously she was a postdoctoral fellow at the Université du Québec à Montréal, working on multidisciplinary ecohydrological modeling related to climate change. In 2009-2010 she led engineering and public policy initiatives as the Junior Fellow and Acting Executive Director of the Ontario Centre for Engineering and Public Policy at Professional Engineers Ontario. Dr. Levison was an Associate Editor for Hydrogeology Journal from 2015 to 2019. In 2020, Dr. Levison received the IAH-CNC Early Career Hydrogeologist Award. At the University of Guelph Dr. Levison is conducting novel research about agricultural and climate change impacts on groundwater quality and quantity, with implications for source water projection. She loves spending time reading books with her two children. Follow Jana on:
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Rochelle Strauss is on a mission to change the world – one book at a time! As an environmental educator and best-selling children’s author, Rochelle is dedicated to building environmental literacy and inspiring people to become active stewards of our planet. Through her work, she uses compelling storytelling to bring complex ecological processes and environmental issues to life, helping young people better understand the natural world and empowering them to have a positive impact. Most importantly, Rochelle also brings HOPE by sharing good new stories of action and innovation from around the world. Rochelle’s children’s books have won several awards, been translated globally, and incorporated into curriculum in the US. The Global Ocean is a UNESCO endorsed Ocean Decade Activity. One Well: The Story of Water on Earth has sold over 650,000 million copies globally and is embedded into the Grade 3 Language Arts curriculum in the United States. It was also selected as part of the UN’s SDG Book Club in support of SDG 6 – Clean Water and Sanitation. Rochelle’s newest book All the Water on Earth (Kids Can Press, June 2026), is a lyrical picture book adaptation loosely based on One Well. 
