Mani L. Bhaumik Award for Public Engagement with Science Grant

Mani L. Bhaumik Award for Public Engagement with Science Grant

Status: ACTIVE
Funder: American Association for the Advancement of Science
Amount: US $5,000
Last Updated: May 16, 2025

Summary

The Mani L. Bhaumik Award for Public Engagement with Science, established in 1987 by the AAAS, honors scientists and engineers for their exceptional contributions to public engagement in science. Recipients receive a $5,000 prize, a plaque, and recognition at the AAAS Annual Meeting. The award emphasizes dialogue and meaningful exchanges between science and society, encouraging nominations from various sectors, including self-nominations. It aims to acknowledge both active and retired individuals who have significantly enhanced public understanding of science and technology.

Overview

The AAAS Mani L. Bhaumik Award for Public Engagement with Science, formerly the AAAS Award for Public Understanding of Science and Technology, was established in 1987 to recognize scientists and engineers who demonstrate excellence in their contribution to public engagement with science. The recipient receives a monetary prize of $5,000, a commemorative plaque, and recognition at the AAAS Annual Meeting. Beginning with the 2019 award year, the award is endowed by and named for quantum physicist Mani L. Bhaumik. Bhaumik is internationally known for the advances he made to excimer laser technology, which eventually led to Lasik eye surgery. He hopes to elevate the recognition of working and retired scientists for their exceptional efforts to communicate science in ways that inform and engage the public. Under the auspices of this new endowment, the award has an increased and renewed focus on public engagement. Public engagement activities emphasize dialogue with various publics and often result from a public interaction, request, or need. Specifically, these activities are defined as the individual’s active participation in efforts to engage with the public on science- and technology-related issues and promote meaningful exchanges between science and society, as highlighted here. The award is presented each year at the AAAS Annual Meeting.

Eligibility

You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website. Nominations may be made by individuals, universities, government agencies, media, research organizations, and AAAS affiliate organizations.Editors from publishing houses may only offer one nomination.Self-nominations are permitted.Prior nomination does not exclude a nominee applying in subsequent years. Re-nomination is encouraged.Nominee must be an individual scientist, mathematician, or engineer.Eligible nominees include active or retired scientists and engineers from all disciplines who have contributed substantially to the public's engagement with science or technology. Public engagement activities must be above and beyond job responsibilities.Nominees considered “early career” may be eligible for the AAAS Early Career Award for Public Engagement with Science.Early career is defined as an individual who has completed their terminal degree within seven years of the deadline for nominations.Q: Does the candidate have to be an AAAS member?A: No. We do collect this information, but it will not affect the selection committee’s decisions.Q: Are international nominations accepted?A: Absolutely! We have past winners from around the world.

Ineligibility

Groups or institutions will not be considered for this award.AAAS employees are ineligible.