Laureates

2021
Jean-Pierre Luminet
In recognition of his longstanding commitment to the popularization of science. Mr Luminet is a distinguished astrophysicist and cosmologist who has been promoting the values of scientific research through a wide variety of media.

2019
Karl Kruszelnicki
In recognition of his longstanding commitment to fire up people’s curiosity for science and share his passion for the subject. “Dr Karl” has been a science communicator for over 30 years, using television, radio, podcasts, print media, books and social media to make science accessible to all.

2017
Erik Jacquemyn
In recognition of his commitment to disseminate knowledge about the sciences among the general public. He is an expert in scientific communication, science centres, science museums and interactive museums.

2015
Diego Andrés Golombek
In recognition of his tireless contribution to science communication and education in diverse and entertaining formats, notably for his role in the development of Argentina’s first Science Cultural Centre.

2013
Xiangyi Li, China
In recognition of his contribution to science popularization, including as cofounder of the China Science and Technology Museum

2011
Réne Raúl Drucker Colín, Mexico
In recognition of his contribution to the promotion of science through print and television media

2009
Trinh Xuan Thuan, Vietnam
In recognition of his work in sharing scientific knowledge and its discoveries though print media in a form that is accessible to scientific and non-scientific readers

2009
Yash Pal, India
For his contribution to science communication in various forms over the decades

2005
Jeter Jorge Bertoletti, Brazil
In recognition of his role in making science better known and more accessible to the general public, especially to children, students and rural communities

2004
Jean Audouze, France
In recognition of his long career and role in the promotion of science, notably for his work in science museums

2003
Pervez Amirali Hoodbhoy, Pakistan
For his contribution to broadening the understanding of science in Pakistan, notably through print and television media

2002
Marisela Salvatierra, Venezuela
For her outstanding career in science communication and environmental education in Latin America

2001
Stefano Fantoni, Italy
In recognition of his role to improve communication between the scientific community and the general public

2000
Ernst Hamburger, Brazil
In recognition of his extensive efforts to popularize science in schools in Brazil

1999
Emil Gabrielian, Armenia
In recognition of his efforts to promote public awareness of science and its role in the development of Armenian science and medicine

1999
Marian Ewurama Addy, Ghana
For her activities to promote the understanding of science through her weekly televised programme and her activities to encourage young adults to study science

1998
Ennio Candotti, Brazil
In recognition of his role to popularize science in Brazil, notably by conceptualizing a popular science magazine

1998
Regina Paz Lopez, Philippines
For her contribution to the popularization of educational scientific programmes for children in the Philippines

1997
Dorairajan Balasubramanian, India
For his work in promoting science and increasing public awareness, notably though science communication (newspaper columns, radio and television programmes)

1996
Jayant Vishnu Narlikar, India
In recognition of his efforts to popularize science through print and electronic media

1996
Jiří Grygar, Czech Republic
In recognition of his activities in spreading the culture and knowledge of science, notably through the medium of television

1995
Julieta Fierro Gossman, Mexico
In recognition of her role as a public figure of science and for her contribution to spreading the understanding of astronomy to the general public

1994
Nikolai Nikolayevich Drozdov, Russia
For his contribution to the promotion of scientific knowledge, notably on environmental conservation, and raising public awareness on environmental issues

1993
Piero Angela, Italy
In recognition for his interpretation of a wide range of scientific subjects through a variety of media intended for the general public

1992
Peter Akinsola Okebukola, Nigeria
For his contribution to reinforcing the teaching of methodologies of science education

1992
Jorge Flores Valdés, Mexico
In recognition of his outstanding contribution to the communication of science and technology to a wide public, notably through print media and interactive science centres in Mexico

1991
Narender K. Sehgal, India
For his contribution to the promotion of the integrity and accessibility of scientific knowledge, and propagating the scientific and technological culture to the broadest possible base

1991
Radu Iftimovici, Romania
For his engagement in the popularization of science through his scientific books, articles, television and radio programmes, films and theatrical plays

1990
Misbah-Ud-Din Shami, Pakistan
For increasing public awareness of science and acquainting the public with the role of science in bettering living conditions

1989
Saad Ahmed Shabaan, Egypt
For his role in the interpretation of science and technology through print and electronic media as a means to break down the barriers between the scientific community and the general public

1988
Björn Kurtén, Finland
In recognition of his outstanding work to make science understandable and to create interest and curiosity about science and its achievements

1987
Marcel Roche, Venezuela
For his life long contribution to the popularization of science, notably his role in promoting science policy formulation and the promotion of science education

1986
David Takayoshi Suzuki, Canada
For his extraordinary broadcasting and television career that has greatly contributed the popularization of science and has engaged the general public to better understand their natural surroundings

1986
Nikolay Gennadiyevich Basov (1964 Nobel Prize winner – Physics), Russia
For his work to interpret science and technology to the public, notably through his many publications aimed at informing the public on science

1985
Sir Peter Brian Medawar (1960 Nobel Prize winner – Medicine), United Kingdom
For his contribution to the popularization of science through his many writings on science that present complex scientific matters to the general public

1984
Igor Vasilevich Petryanov-Sokolov, Russia
In recognition of his work in science communication, notably for his work to communicate complex scientific discoveries or inventions to the general public

1984
Yves Coppens, France
For his contribution to the diffusion of scientific knowledge and the culture of science

1983
Abdullah Al-Muti Sharafuddin, Bangladesh
For his efforts to make advanced scientific knowledge accessible to all, and for his role in the promotion of science education in Bangladesh

1982
Oswaldo Frota-Pessoa, Brazil
In recognition of his work to make known to the general public the social benefits related to major scientific discoveries

1981
Dennis Flanagan, United States of America
For his contribution to the dissemination and popularization of scientific knowledge through the printed press

1981
Sir David Attenborough, United Kingdom
For his numerous television programmes and documentaries on natural history intended for a wide public audience

1980
Aristides Bastidas, Venezuela
For his contribution to the popularization of science through his science writing and journalism

1979
Sergei Petrovich Kapitsa, Russia
For his contribution to promoting a better understanding of the achievements of science and technology to the public at large, notably though print and television media

1978
Hoimar von Ditfurth, Germany
For his ability to explain science in popular terms through the medium of books, newspaper articles, and radio and television programmes

1977
Fernand Seguin, Canada
For his outstanding work in using the medium of television to educate and inspire scientific curiosity in Canada

1976
Alexander Ivanovich Oparin, Russia
In recognition for his work to bring modern discoveries and technologies to the attention of the public

1976
George Porter (1967 Nobel Prize winner - Chemistry), United Kingdom
For his role in raising public awareness of science and in making science accessible to the public at large

1974
José Reis, Brazil
For his role in explaining science and technology to the public and encouraging the improvement of their living conditions through his work as a science writer

1974
Luis Estrada Martínez, Mexico
In recognition of his work to spread scientific knowledge through popular entertainment

1972
Philip Abelson, United States of America
For his contribution to the popularization of science through the print media: Science magazine

1972
Nigel Calder, United Kingdom
For his remarkable career in the promotion of science by informing the public on the progress of science, notably through print and television

1971
Pierre Auger, France
In recognition of his exemplary work in providing the general public a better understanding of the scientific world

1970
Margaret Mead, United States of America
In recognition of her work to broaden the scientific domain and make scientific matters accessible to all

1969
Konrad Lorenz (1973 Nobel Prize winner - Medicine), Austria
In recognition of his work in sharing scientific knowledge and its In recognition of his role in the promotion of scientific knowledge and the appreciation of science to the public at large

1968
Sir Gavin Rylands de Beer, United Kingdom
In recognition of his role to increase the public’s knowledge of natural phenomena and human scientific achievement, most notably for his work at the British Museum

1967
Sir Fred Hoyle, United Kingdom
In recognition of his role to humanize science and scientific research through his television programmes and lectures addressed to the general public

1966
Paul Couderc, France
For his contribution to the popularization of science through radio, television and print media

1965
Eugene Rabinowitch, United States of America
In recognition of his work to encourage international cooperation among scientists and to bring to light the potential dangers of science to the public

1964
Warren Weaver, United States of America
For his contribution to the popularization of science through radio and television programmes on science

1963
Jagjit Singh, India
In recognition of his efforts to improve the general public’s understanding of the fundamental principals of mathematics, astro-physics and cosmology

1962
Gerard Piel, United States of America
In recognition for his work in science communication as a science writer and editor

1961
Arthur C. Clarke, United Kingdom
In recognition of his work to spread the scientific culture to the general public, notably through his non-fiction and fiction writing

1960
Ritchie Calder, United Kingdom
For his work in the promotion of the understanding of science through scientific writing

1959
Jean Rostand, France
In recognition of his work as a science writer to make known to a vast public in France the main problems and issues of biology, particularly in the domain of genetics and embryology

1958
Karl von Frisch (1973 Nobel Laureate - Medicine), Germany
In recognition of his work in the popularization of science through print media

1957
Bertrand Russell (1950 Nobel Prize - Literature), United Kingdom
In recognition of his significant writings and activities that spread scientific information to the public, notably concerning issues on world peace and campaigning against nuclear weapons

1956
George Gamow, United states of America
In recognition of his numerous books on science written for the general public that make complex scientific concepts understandable and entertaining

1955
Augusto Pi Sunyer, Venezuela
In recognition of his important contribution to the popularization of science in Spanish-speaking countries through his writings on science

1954
Waldemar Kaempffert, United States of America
In recognition of his role as a science journalist and writer presenting scientific discoveries in a simple and understandable manner to the public

1953
Julian Huxley, United Kingdom
In recognition of his work to communicate the results of scientific research to the public

1952
Louis de Broglie (1929 Nobel Prize - Physics), France
In recognition of his work for the popularization of science, notably through his many scientific articles and publications