The Beetlestone* Award Committee is delighted to announce that for 2019 this prestigious Award which recognises “leadership and legacy in the field of informal science learning” is being given not once, but twice.  Such was the field of candidates that the Committee decided that two people – contributing to the field in very different ways – both deserve an Award. Exceptionally, therefore, two Awards are being given.  This is not a question of ‘sharing the prize’; each recipient is equally deserving of full recognition.

 Helen Featherstone is Head of Public  Engagement at the University of Bath,  and the current chair of BIG.  She has  also worked in science centres and as an  independent consultant and  researcher. The assessors felt that “her  many expert contributions to the field  and her enthusiastic advocacy” have  already “built a solid legacy which will  continue to facilitate the sharing of expertise and raise standards in public engagement with science.”

Ian Russell runs his own company, Interactive Science Ltd., and is both a science communicator and an exhibit designer.  The assessors pointed out that he has “forged his own brand both nationally and internationally, and is widely respected”, and added that“his seemingly inborn spirit and drive to share the joy of science is beyond admirable”.   These qualities have inspired generations of young people and many other professional communicators – a significant legacy.

Colin Johnson, chair of the Beetlestone Award Committee, says “In this second year of the Award we received another impressive field of candidates, and I am delighted that we are able to recognise the very significant contributions that, in their different ways, both Helen and Ian are making to the field.  My very warmest congratulations to them both.”

Each Award carries a personal cash prize of £500, an additional bursary to facilitate dissemination of the holder’s vision and legacy (which is an obligation on the awardee) and free registration for the next BIG conference.  The next call for applications/nominations will be early in 2020 and you can find out more here.

*John Beetlestone (1932-2017) was the founding director of Techniquest, the UK’s first purpose-built science discovery centre. This Award has been made possible through the generosity of his family and friends.