The best and most innovative examples of science communication by medical research charities were announced this week. The Association of Medical Research Charities’ (AMRC) Science Communication Awards celebrate AMRC members’ excellence in science communication and demonstrates the sector’s overall commitment to dialogue with the public on all aspects of medical research.
Breakthrough Breast Cancer won the overall prize for its booklet “Breast Cancer Risk Factors: The Facts”, which was selected for excellence in both content and design, taking top honours in the patient information leaflet and design categories also.
Other winners were Cancer Research UK’s innovative science blog, the Multiple Sclerosis Society’s programme of involving MS Society members in research activities, the Parkinson’s Disease Society for its annual report and the Chronic Granulomatous Disorder Research Trust for its newsletters.
Research into Ageing was selected for its research report for a non-expert audience: ‘The disconnected mind’, a category also won by the charity in 2007 and the Motor Neurone Disease Association was the winner in a new category – campaigning and public affairs.
This year’s awards were sponsored by the Academy of Medical Sciences, the BioIndustry Association, the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform, the Department of Health, the Medical Research Council the Wales Office of Research and Development for Health and Social Care and the UK Clinical Research Collaboration.
Simon Denegri, Chief Executive of AMRC said:
“Tonight we have seen stellar examples of science communication work by member charities. Medical research charities are now at the forefront of efforts to improve public understanding of science in the UK. They not only play a leading role in raising awareness of research relevant to particular diseases or conditions, but increasingly work together with passion, commitment and skill to promote public debate on key issues - as we saw during the successful passage of the Human Embryology and Fertilisation Act in 2008.”
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11 March 2009
Background information
1. For images, a full list of winners, or to arrange an interview please telephone Sara Ellis on 0207 2698826
2. This is the fourth AMRC Science Communication Award. The first ran in 1998, from 2005 they have been held on a biennial basis.
3. The nine members of the judging panel were: Simon Moore (chair), Sir Iain Chalmers, Professor Clive Page, Caroline Ellis, Laura Gilbert, Dr Ann McPherson, Rebecca Morelle, Professor Ray Tallis and Simon Wilde The competition was open to all charities that are members of the Association of Medical Research Charities (AMRC).
4. 81 entries were received from 32 member charities.
5. The eight categories in the competition were:
Online research information (sponsored by the UK Clinical Research Collaboration)
Patient information leaflet (Sponsored by the UK Clinical Research Collaboration)
Patient and public involvement (sponsored by the Department of Health)
Research report for non-expert audience (sponsored by the Department of Health)
Science reportage in annual report or review (sponsored by the Academy of Medical Sciences)
Campaigning and public affairs (new category, sponsored by the BioIndustry Association)
Use of design (sponsored by the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform)
Innovative communication by small charities
6. An overall winner award (sponsored by the Medical Research Council) was also made.
7. Winning charities each received £300. The overall winner was presented with a cheque for £1000.
8. The Association of Medical Research Charities (AMRC) is a membership organisation of the leading medical and health research charities in the UK. Working with our member charities and partners, we aim to support the sector’s effectiveness and advance medical research by developing best practice, providing information and guidance, improving public dialogue about research and science, and influencing government. www.amrc.org.uk