5.14.2013

Announcing the Winners of the Science Seeker Awards!



There were over three hundred and fifty posts nominated for the inaugural ScienceSeeker Awards! Congratulations to everyone who was nominated!

Before I get to the winners, I want to first thank the judges, Fraser Cain, Maggie Koerth-Baker, and Maryn McKenna, for reading and commenting on dozens of posts, and to the National Association of Science Writers (NASW) for funding the contest.

As a reminder, there are eleven awards that will be handed out. The best single post from among the following ten categories will each receive an award of $100:

  • Best biology post

  • Best physics, astronomy, or earth science post

  • Best psychology or neuroscience post

  • Best medical sciences post

  • Best chemistry post

  • Best podcast or video

  • Best post about peer-reviewed research

  • Best post by a high school or undergraduate blogger

  • Best science art post (e.g. cartoon, photo, drawing, sketch, painting, etc)

  • Best life-in-science post

In addition, there will be a grand prize for Post of the Year which will receive an award of $1000 and priority registration for 2014's ScienceOnline Together, the annual conference in Raleigh that brings together scientists and science communicators from all over the world.

Without any further ado, here are the winners!

Best biology post
The Narcissism of De-Extinction by Hannah Waters

Finalists:
Gingrey is a bad doctor, says science by Christie Wilcox
Archaea Are More Wonderful Than You Know by Jennifer Frazer
Bad news for whale sharks: The world’s largest fish are being killed for bait and billboards by David Schiffman
Buzzsaw Jaw Helicoprion Was a Freaky Ratfish by Brian Switek


Best physics, astronomy, or earth science post
On the L’Aquila trial verdict: earthquake safety is about door locks, not fire alarms by Chris Rowan

Finalists:
Phenomenon of the year: Sandy’s stunning surge by Bob Henson
The Truth about Radon by Matt Herod
Why Paleontology Is Relevant by Sarah Werning


Best psychology or neuroscience post
The crayola-fication of the world: How we gave colors names, and it messed with our brains (part II) by Aatish Bhatia

Finalists:
Dr. David H. Barlow and Aversion Therapy for Gays by The Neurocritic
Exploring the Mind of the Mountain Gorilla by Kim Moynahan
Why do children hide by covering their eyes? by Christian Jarrett
Will changing your Facebook profile picture do anything for marriage equality? by Melanie Tannenbaum


Best medical sciences post
Weaving together the DNA of parenthood by Nathalia Holt

Finalists:
Llamas: Vaccine Factories For HIV by Nsikan Akpan
When You Swallow A Grenade by Carl Zimmer
Are You A Unique Medical Case? by Lutz Kraushaar


Best chemistry post
Negative temperature? by Chad Jones

Finalists:
My, What Lustrous Fur You Have by Sara Klink
Wanna buy some tetrahedral centers? by vinylogous


Best podcast or video
Palaeocast Episode 12: Paleozoic Problematica by Dave Marshall

Finalists:
Chemjobber Podcast: Chemistry Avengers: anti-chemophobia and chemistry outreach by Chemjobber
Token Skeptic Episode One Hundred And Fifty Two – On Bad Pharma And AllTrials.Net – Interview With Dr Ben Goldacre by TokenSkeptic


Best post about peer-reviewed research
The pseudoscience of anecdotes by Pete Etchells

Finalists:
Dogs and Cats in the Home: Happiness for all? by Julie Hecht
Did dinosaurs lactate..? by Jon Tennant
Science Journalism and the Inner Swine Dog by Jalees Rehman


Best post by a high school or undergraduate blogger
Students of Ethnobotany: Underneath the mistletoe by Joycelyn Cheung

Finalist:
Deforestation and Global Warming by Samantha Jakuboski


Best science art post
Nanobody by May K.

Finalist:
Photos of Starfish Up Close: What Are You Looking At? by Hannah Waters


Best life-in-science post
The Sea Has Neither Sense Nor Pity: the Earliest Known Cases of AIDS in the Pre-AIDS Era by Rebecca Kreston

Finalists:
A field guide to privilege in marine science: some reasons why we lack diversity by Miriam Goldstein
Playing in Tide Pools | Scientist in vivo by Christie Wilcox
A Dream Deferred: How access to STEM is denied to many students before they get in the door good by Danielle Lee
Does Neuroscience need a Newton? by Scicurious


Post of the Year
Re-Awakenings by Virginia Hughes

Congratulations to all the winners! Please email me so that we can arrange to deliver your prizes: jason at scienceseeker dot org

If you are a finalist or winner, here are some badges and embed codes that you can use on your blogs and websites.

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