Public Service Award

Honoring Service in Public Understanding of Science and Engineering

Nominations for 2010 Award Are No Longer Being Accepted

Link to Award Recipients

About the Award

The National Science Board Public Service Award honors individuals who and groups that have made substantial contributions to increasing public understanding of science and engineering in the United States. These contributions may be in a wide variety of areas that have the potential of contributing to public understanding of and appreciation for science and engineering – including mass media, education and/or training programs, entertainment, etc.

Recipients of the NSB Public Service Award include: NUMB3RS, the CBS television drama series; Ira Flatow, Host and Executive Producer of NPR’s "Science Friday"; Alfred P. Sloan Foundation; Bill Nye The Science Guy; and NOVA, the PBS television series.

Eligibility

The NSB Public Service Award is typically given to one individual and one group (company, corporation, or organization) per year. Members of the U.S. Government are not eligible to receive the award.

Selection Criteria

Candidates for the NSB Public Service Award should have demonstrated outstanding leadership and accomplishment in meeting the following selection criteria:

• Increased the public's understanding of the processes of science and engineering through scientific discovery, innovation, and its communication to the public.
• Encouraged others to help raise the public understanding of science and technology.
• Promoted the engagement of scientists and engineers in public outreach and scientific literacy.
• Contributed to the development of broad science and engineering policy and its support.
• Achieved broad recognition outside of the candidate’s area of specialization.
• Fostered awareness of science and technology among broad segments of the population.

Submit a Nomination

Nominations for the 2010 NSB Public Service Award may be submitted through the National Science Foundation's FastLane at https://www.fastlane.nsf.gov/honawards/, by email, or by postal mail. The website contains detailed information concerning nomination procedures. Nominations remain active for three years, including the year of nomination.

• Note for first-time Fastlane users: Create an account on the FastLane website using the link found in the upper right-hand corner above the "Log In" box.

Nominations may also be submitted by email or postal mail:

Jennifer Richards
National Science Board Office
National Science Foundation
4201 Wilson Boulevard, Suite 1220
Arlington, VA 22230
jlrichar@nsf.gov

Nomination Procedure Guidelines

• Individual award nominations must include:
  
  
  • A current curriculum vita (without publications),
  • A narrative statement (approximately 3 pages) addressing the following:
    • The candidate’s public service activities in science and engineering,
    • The candidate’s contributions to public understanding of science and engineering, as they relate to the selection criteria,
  • Contact information of candidate and nominator.
  
  
  
• Group award nominations must include:
  
  
  • A narrative statement (approximately 3 pages) addressing the following:
    • The group’s activities, and how they accomplish the selection criteria for the award,
    • Length of years of the program,
    • Number and type of individuals served by the group’s activities,
    • Data on the success of the program (if available),
  • Contact information of candidate and nominator.

Reference letters are optional, and may be submitted via email or postal mail.