2026 AAAS Kavli Science Journalism Award Winners Named
by The Kavli Foundation
Peers select winners from around the globe
The Author
Winning entries to the 2026 AAAS Kavli Science Journalism Awards highlight the breadth and complexity of science journalism, from reporting on federal funding cuts and anti-science legislation to uncovering public health risks and exploring the natural world.
Independent panels of science journalists select the winners of the awards, which are administered by the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) and endowed by The Kavli Foundation. The awards recognize excellence across eight categories, with Gold and Silver Awards in each. The global awards program drew entries from 47 countries this year, with 58% of the more than 1,100 submissions coming from international journalists.
Gold winners are noted below. See the AAAS website for the full list of winners. Awardees will be celebrated at the 2027 AAAS Annual Meeting.
Science Reporting – Large Outlet
Gold Award
Kay Lazar, Sarah Rahal and Jonathan Saltzman
‘My scientific career is essentially over.’ A brain drain imperils Massachusetts’ biomedical future.
The Boston Globe
February 11, 2026
Science Reporting – Small Outlet
Gold Award
Tristan Baurick and Halle Parker
Poison at Play: Unsafe lead levels found in half of New Orleans playgrounds
Verite News
February 26, 2026
Science Reporting – In-Depth
Gold Award
Nat Lash
What the U.S. Government Is Dismissing That Could Seed a Bird Flu Pandemic
ProPublica
November 18, 2025
How ProPublica Investigated a Bird Flu Outbreak in America’s Heartland
ProPublica
November 18, 2025
Magazine
Gold Award
Melissa L. Sevigny
Continental Shift
High Country News
January 1, 2026
Video
Spot News/Feature Reporting (20 minutes or less)
Gold Award
Cleo Abram, Kimberly Mas, Justin Poore, Logen Kershaw and Nicole Menkart
What's Hidden Under Antarctica?
YouTube - HUGE* If True
May 9, 2026
Video In-Depth Reporting (more than 20 minutes)
Gold Award
Olly Bootle, Kirstie McLure, Emma Ross and Josette D. Normandeau
Can Dogs Talk?
NOVA/GBH/PBS
February 4, 2026
Audio
Gold Award
Soren Wheeler, Lulu Miller, Sindhu Gnanasambandan and Rachel Gross
Song of the Cerebellum
Radiolab
January 30, 2026
Children’s Science News
Gold Award
Kathryn Hulick
Got brain rot?
Science News Explores
March 19, 2026
5 things to remember when talking to a chatbot
Science News Explores
Nov. 13, 2025