Up to 300 media representatives from 50 countries gather in Tashkent and Samarkand today for the start of the International Media Forum “Islamic Civilization: New Look – New Discoveries,” organized by the Center for Islamic Civilization in Uzbekistan.
The Forum brings together global media, cinema, publishing, science and digital technology to present Islamic civilization’s contribution to human progress to international audiences in new and compelling ways – through the works of great scientists and thinkers, ancient manuscripts, unique artifacts, documentary films, publishing projects and artificial intelligence. Its aim is to make this heritage understood and valued by audiences worldwide.
The initiative builds on a proposal by President Shavkat Mirziyoyev at the UN General Assembly in 2017, to present Islam as a religion of peace, knowledge and tolerance. At a time when global media increasingly shape how societies understand one another, that idea carries particular international weight. The Forum sets out to show that the achievements of Islamic civilization – from Al-Khwarizmi, Al-Fergani and Ibn Sina [emphasis mine] to the intellectual and cultural legacy of the Timurid and Baburid eras – belong not to one region or religion alone, but to the shared heritage of humanity.
Participants include heads and representatives of 26 television and radio companies, 24 international publications, 14 newspapers, and five international media associations. CNN and Euronews are the Forum’s general media partners.
The programme combines plenary sessions and professional discussions, documentary screenings, presentations of international media and publishing projects, and meetings between journalists, directors, producers and publishers, alongside the signing of cooperation agreements. A central question running through the sessions is how to tell the story of historical and spiritual heritage in today’s language – through documentary filmmaking, television, publishing, museum technology, artificial intelligence, digital avatars and immersive formats.
Delegates will view the Center’s manuscript and artifact collections firsthand, record interviews, and identify subjects for future documentaries, books and digital projects. The programme also includes a visit to Samarkand – among other sites, the Imam al-Bukhari Memorial Complex and UNESCO World Heritage landmarks – timed alongside events marking the 35th anniversary of Uzbekistan’s independence.
Beyond showcasing existing work, the Forum is designed as a launchpad for new international partnerships – joint films, television programmes, books and digital media projects.
“The International Media Forum continues the initiative of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, voiced at the UN General Assembly in 2017, to reveal to the world the true humanistic essence of Islam – grounded in knowledge, enlightenment, peace and tolerance,” said Dr. Firdavs Abdukhalikov, Director General of the Center for Islamic Civilization in Uzbekistan. “At the initiative of the head of state, extensive work is under way to study and preserve the legacy of great scientists and thinkers. Today, it is essential to tell that story in a modern language – through world media, cinema, books, digital technology and artificial intelligence. This is how the President’s vision translates into concrete international media projects reaching millions of people worldwide.”
The Forum marks a new stage in the Center’s long-term strategy: from informing the world about Uzbekistan to co-creating international content that reveals the country’s historical, scientific and cultural heritage through contemporary media.
A growing global network
The Center’s materials and projects have reached media in 65 countries, including 246 news items and sponsored features, seven full-length co-produced documentaries, 27 video projects, 23 television stories and more than 60 books.
The Center for Islamic Civilization in Uzbekistan initiates and sponsors a number of international media partnership projects aimed at promoting Uzbekistan’s cultural, historical and intellectual heritage on the global stage. With the Center’s sponsorship, Euronews and CNN have produced more than 25 television and digital features on its history, architecture and collections, and on the return of cultural treasures to Uzbekistan – reaching a combined television audience of over 400 million viewers. Further documentary and special projects have been produced with TRT World and TRT Avaz, while sponsored coverage of Uzbekistan’s cultural heritage has appeared on the BBC, The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal and National Geographic. Cooperation with Al Jazeera Media Network is currently under discussion.
Among the Center’s flagship projects is the documentary series Echo of Enlightenment, featuring Academy Award winner Sir Ben Kingsley, which traces the legacy of Al-Khwarizmi, Al-Fergani, Ibn Sina and other Central Asian scientists [emphases mine] alongside the cultural achievements of the Timurid and Baburid eras. Broadcast on the BBC, CNN and Euronews, the series has reached a combined audience of more than 418 million viewers, and one instalment, Whispers of Wisdom, has won international recognition including the official SILKFEST 26 award in Belgrade and the Terres Travel Festival in Tortosa, Catalonia.
The Tashkent and Samarkand Forum builds directly on this record – moving from individual media projects toward systematic cooperation with the world’s leading newsrooms, broadcasters, directors, producers and publishers, and the joint creation of new global media content on Islamic civilization.
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About the Center for Islamic Civilization in Uzbekistan
Opened in March 2026, the Center for Islamic Civilization is located on the historical site of Shash, in the heart of Tashkent, next to the spiritual center of the capital, the Hazrati Imam complex. The three-story building measures 145 by 115 meters, and its central dome rises 65 meters.
The Center’s exposition is based on the Uthman Quran, one of the oldest surviving handwritten copies of the Quran in the world. The manuscript is included in the UNESCO Memory of the World program, dedicated to the preservation and promotion of documentary heritage of world importance.
The area of the main museum exposition is about 15,000 square meters; In addition, the complex includes a research center, digitization laboratories, as well as conservation and restoration workshops. Visitors will be able to see rare artifacts of different historical periods, returned from abroad, including those purchased at international auctions and from private collectors at the initiative of the President of Uzbekistan. The exposition also presents collections of museums from around the world and the World Society for the Study, Preservation and Promotion of the Cultural Heritage of Uzbekistan (WOSCU). Interactive exhibitions tell about the outstanding achievements of the Islamic Golden Age in the fields of algebra, astronomy and medicine.
Even before the official opening, the Center received wide international recognition. In 2026, it was named one of the most beautiful museums in the world by the Prix Versailles, included by Smithsonian Magazine and BBC Travel in the list of the most anticipated new museums of the year, and also listed in the Guinness Book of World Records as the world’s largest museum dedicated to Islamic civilization.
A December 29, 2025 news item (partner content: Tourism Committee of the Republic of Uzbekistan) on Euro News highlights some of “Echo of Enlightenment’s|” science content, Note: All emphases are mine,
A new cultural project from Uzbekistan is challenging how the history of science is usually told. Known as Echo of Enlightenment, the initiative places Central Asian scholars back into a global narrative that often begins in Europe and skips several centuries of intellectual exchange along the way.
Led by the Center for Islamic Civilization in Tashkent, the project is part of a broader effort to present Uzbekistan not only as a historical crossroads, but as a birthplace of global ideas that continue to shape modern life – from algebra and astronomy to medicine and cartography.
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At the centre of the project is a 10-part documentary series, each episode dedicated to a scholar or cultural figure from the Islamic Golden Age with connections to the territory of present-day Uzbekistan. The films combine dramatic reenactment, expert commentary, historical research and modern animation to explain complex ideas and bring the stories to life.
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Among the featured figures are Muhammad al-Khwarizmi, whose work laid the foundations for algebra and algorithms; Ahmad al-Fergani, whose astronomical calculations later influenced explorers like Columbus; and Abu Rayhan al-Biruni, a polymath and early pioneer of fields such as geography and anthropology.
Another episode focuses on Ibn Sina, known in Europe as Avicenna, whose Canon of Medicine remained a standard university text well into the early modern period.
The series also devotes significant attention to the Timurid era, often described by historians as Central Asia’s “Second Renaissance”. Viewers are introduced to figures such as Amir Timur, the first Timurid ruler who turned Samarkand into a centre of learning; Mirzo Ulugbek, the 15th-century astronomer whose calculations of the Earth’s year were among the most accurate of his time; and Ali Kushchi, who helped spread astronomical knowledge westward.
Cultural life is not neglected. Episodes on Alisher Navoi, Kamoliddin Behzad and Zahiriddin Muhammad Babur explore how literature, miniature painting and political leadership developed alongside scientific inquiry, reinforcing the idea that knowledge systems rarely exist in a vacuum.
One of the most visually striking instalments recreates Ulugbek’s 15th-century observatory and astronomy school in Samarkand, highlighting their influential role as beacons for scientific inquiry.
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In doing so, Echo of Enlightenment makes a broader argument: that modern science emerged through centuries of cross-cultural exchange, not in isolation. For European audiences, the series offers a reminder that ideas long taught in Western universities often have roots further east.
Rather than nostalgia, the project presents continuity – a case for seeing Islamic civilization not as a closed chapter, but as an active contributor to the shared intellectual history of today’s world.
The Center for Islamic Civilization (CISC) in Uzbekhistan was previewed in a December 5, 2025 article by Rebecca Cairns for CNN (also a CISC partner), Note: Links have been removed,
Four times taller than the Hollywood sign and around seven times larger than the White House, Uzbekistan’s newest cultural center is a monument of epic proportions.
Part museum, part academic research facility, the three-story Center for Islamic Civilization (CISC) in Tashkent will be open to the public in March 2026, and is intended to celebrate and revive Uzbekistan’s historical role as a center of Islamic scholarship.
“This region has been home to many ancestors who influenced world civilization,” said Firdavs Abdukhalikov, director of CISC. “The big question was how to present their influence to the world, to younger generations, in an engaging and modern way.”
Over the past eight years, while the building was under construction, CISC engaged 1,500 specialists from more than 40 countries to help develop the center’s scientific, architectural and cultural elements.
For example, through an “interactive educational zone” that leverages virtual reality, augmented reality, and artificial intelligence technologies for exhibits such as conversations with “living portraits” of historical scholars and thinkers, the center hopes to inspire children to explore astronomy, medicine, literature and art.
The second floor will be dedicated to research, where international academics can access more than 200,000 books in its library.
“It’s not just a museum — it’s a cultural and educational platform. Here, we don’t only engage with artifacts, but also with the lives and ideas of influential figures,” Abdukhalikov added.
Reviving the past
While Uzbekistan is a secular nation, Islam is a key part of its history and cultural identity.
Arab conquests brought Islam to Central Asia in the 7th century, replacing earlier Zoroastrian and Buddhist traditions, and between the 9th and 12th centuries, the region experienced a golden age of science, literature, and architecture.
Medieval Uzbekistan, and the wider Central Asian region, was “a globalized world before globalization,” said historian Farhan Ahmad Nizami, founding director of the Oxford Center for Islamic Studies at the University of Oxford, who’s not connected to the CISC.
Uzbek cities like Bukhara and Samarkand were important stops on the Silk Road, a cross-continental trade route that stretched from Venice to Xi’an for 1,500 years (130 BCE to 1453 CE), and became a confluence of culture and ideas from both the East and West.
“(Uzbekistan’s) contribution in science and arts is obvious, and now people are rediscovering it, although it had not received sufficient attention,” Nizami added.
Later, in the 15th and 16th centuries, the Timurid Empire would see a second renaissance of art, science, and diplomacy, with Samarkand at its center, an era that the CISC’s architecture draws inspiration from with its grand, mosaic-covered archways, blue tile-covered domes and intricate ornamentation.
The building, designed by Abdukakhkhor Turdiev, draws inspiration from classical Islamic architecture of Central Asia, particularly the Timurid era.CNN
In the 19th century, Russian expansion saw many parts of Central Asia incorporated into the Russian Empire, and later the Soviet Union, which imposed secular rule and suppressed Islamic practices.
“A significant portion of our cultural treasures left the country during the Soviet times,” says Abdukhalikov.
It wasn’t until 1991 that Uzbekistan regained independence and began reviving its Islamic heritage and cultural identity. To this end, CISC was given a directive to recover its historic items.
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There are criticisms of the center, relating to its cost, the sources of its funding, and the limited religious freedom in the country.
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Cairns’s December 5, 2025 article includes more information and many more embedded images of the stunning CISC.
I have three relatively recent stories about the influence Middle Eastern scientists have had on European science,
An April 22, 2025 posting: “Arabic manuscript containing lost works of Apollonius discussed in new book about Middle Eastern science (etc.) scholarship” about a hidden debt to Arabic and Muslim scientists such as Ibn Muhammad al-Qazwini
A July 9, 2025 posting: “Copernicus’ cosmological model strongly influenced by ancient Muslim astronomer Ibn al-Shatir?”
A July 24, 2024 posting: “11th century Arab-Muslim optical scientist laid groundwork for modern-day physics,” scientist al-Ḥasan Ibn al-Haytham known in Latin as “Alhazen”
Going back further,
A November 9, 2015 posting: “Science in Muslim universities report, a science and Islam exhibit, and a debate about science and Islam”
The exhibit, “1001 Inventions: Discover the Muslim Heritage in Our World” is also an organization called 1001 Inventions and it has a website. It seems that long ago exhibit was the first in a series of 1001 Inventions programmes. Here’s more from the organization’s About 1001 Inventions page, Note: A link has been removed,
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1001 Inventions is a UK based not-for-profit science and cultural heritage organisation co-founded in 2006 by award-winning British producer, philanthropist and social entrepreneur Ahmed Salim.
1001 Inventions creates and delivers global educational initiatives aiming to spark young people’s interest in science while promoting diversity and inclusion.
Through a network of strategic partners, 1001 Inventions has engaged and educated more than 500 million people globally through world-class transmedia productions including interactive exhibits, films, immersive live shows, hands-on workshops, digital content, books and learning material.
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About 1001 Inventions
1001 Inventions is an award-winning international science and cultural heritage organisation that raises awareness of the creative golden age of Arabic Science.
From the 7th century onwards, men and women of different faiths and cultures built on knowledge from ancient civilisations making breakthroughs that have left their mark on our world.
Join us on a journey to the past to inspire a better future!
This really is a reminder that science is a collaborative endeavour (with many influences such as literature, poetry, architecture, etc.) and that knowledge flows back and forth amongst many peoples as it is enriched by that collaboration.
This December 15, 2025 essay by Beth DuFault (assistant professor of marketing, University of Portland in Oregon, US) for the Conversation draws some interesting parallels between science ‘influencers’ of the past with science ‘influencers’ of the present, Note: Links have been removed,
People often see science as a world apart: cool, rational and untouched by persuasion or performance. In this view, scientists simply discover truth, and truth speaks for itself.
But history tells a different story. Scientific theories do not simply reveal themselves; they compete for attention, credibility and uptake. U.S. Supreme Court Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr. once suggested that “the best test of truth is the power of the thought to get itself accepted in the competition of the market,” a line that helped popularize the metaphor of a “marketplace of ideas.”
In this view, science is not outside the market, but inside a public arena where claims vie for audiences, resources and belief – and where power, persuasion and social position shape which ideas are heard, trusted or forgotten.
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From Isaac Newton’s followers and their coffeehouse demonstrations of physics wonders to today’s TED Talks and TikTok explainers, scientists have long relied on storytelling and demonstration to make invisible truths visible. For scientific theories to supplant other plausible theories, to challenge existing theories and win acceptance, they must be correct – but they must also be convincing.
The original science influencers
In the early 1700s, Isaac Newton’s followers turned abstract theory into public performance and cultural fashion.
At the time, Cartesian philosophy dominated intellectual life. Newton’s 1687 book “Principia Mathematica” proposed a new worldview of gravity, optics and motion, but the mathematics was so dense that few could grasp it.
Although Newton himself was a recluse, a circle of zealous Newtonian men of science, described by historians as devoted disciples and even evangelists for Newton’s natural philosophy, took his new theories on the road. These itinerant lecturers performed experiments and spectaculars in London coffeehouses and aristocratic salons, demonstrating Newtonian physics. They sold tickets, pamphlets and even branded scientific instruments so audiences could reproduce these marvels at home.
Historian of science Jeff Wigelsworth showed that Newton’s evangelizers built what today might be called a brand: experiences, artifacts and emotions that linked scientific authority to Enlightenment ideals of reason and progress, and to their own personalities.
My own research finds that these men of science also used a suite of early marketing activities. Besides developing products to sell to promote Newtonian science, they came up with promotions that targeted different audiences, adjusted their pricing and used varied distribution strategies.
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From coffeehouses to TikTok
Three centuries later, the marketing of science is more visible, and more complicated, than ever.
Scientists can now promote their work on social media platforms like Bluesky, YouTube and TikTok, crafting personal brands and cultivating audiences. Influencer-scientists use storytelling, humor and design to reach millions. If scientists don’t do this themselves, their proponents, just like Newton’s disciples, may do it for them.
I call this process the marketization of moral authority: when historically sacred or ostensibly impartial institutions such as science, religion and education increasingly organize themselves as markets, adopting promotional, pricing and product logics to secure their legitimacy, authority, appeal and funding.
None of this effort is inherently bad. As in Newton’s time, effective marketing communications can make complex work accessible and even inspiring. …
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Value of recognizing that science gets marketed
You might wonder why anyone beyond academia should care whether science is marketed. After all, every field uses communication and outreach.
It matters because science is one of the few institutions people still rely on to anchor truth claims in evidence. And when the boundary between scientific fact and promotion blurs, it becomes easy to confuse confidence with credibility, or charisma with responsible consensus.
Scientific rhetoric can easily be co-opted. Think of wellness influencers using “quantum” jargon to sell supplements; AI companies invoking neuroscience to legitimatize untested technologies; charlatans mimicking the language of peer review to sow doubt.
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Science has never been the pristine, market-free ideal many imagine. It has always lived – sometimes uneasily – within a marketplace of ideas, competing for belief, attention and authority.
Jemima McPhee’s (PhD candidate [Classics], Australian National University) December 28, 2025 essay for The Conversation looks backwards over 2,000 years for advice about dealing with scientific misinformation, Note: Links have been removed,
Ancient scientists can be easy to dismiss.
Greek philosopher Thales of Miletus, often described as the West’s first scientist, believed the whole Earth was suspended on water. Roman encyclopaedist Pliny the Elder recommended entrails, chicken brains, and mice cut in two as topical remedies for snakebite.
The lone ancient Greek thinker who believed Earth orbits the Sun – Aristarchus of Samos – was universally dismissed by his contemporaries.
Because these scientific beliefs are so different from our own, it may seem we have nothing to learn from long-dead scientists. However, thinkers 2,500 years ago already faced many problems that are today amplified by social media and artificial intelligence (AI), such as how to tell truth from fiction.
1. Start with observations
Almost every ancient scientific text offers advice about observing or collecting data before making a decision. …
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Ancient astronomers, Manilius [Marcus Manilius] says, would look around and gather evidence before drawing any conclusions. Greek and Roman scientists wanted their readers to do the same, and to be suspicious of any claims that are not backed up by data
2. Think critically
Ancient scientists insisted their readers think critically, encouraging us to analyse the claims made by other people.
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Ancient scientists encourage us to think critically about information we read or hear, because even well-meaning sources are not always accurate. Writers like the Aetna author [Aetna, anonymous text that explains how volcanoes work] want us to think before accepting other people’s claims.
3. Acknowledge what you don’t know
Another skill ancient scientists encourage is acknowledging our limits. Even Greek and Roman scientists who claimed to be experts in their field frequently admitted they didn’t have all the answers.
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Greek and Roman scientists knew that people who claim they have no doubts can be very persuasive. However, as Lucretius [Roman philosopher] demonstrates, a source that acknowledges its limits may actually be more trustworthy.
4. Science is part of culture
An ancient medical text from the school of Hippocrates called On the Sacred Disease sought to explain the causes of epilepsy. Contrary to what the title might lead us to expect, the author argues vehemently that there is nothing “sacred” about epilepsy or any other illness, and is determined to discover its physical causes.
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Ancient thinkers understood that science was part of culture rather than separate from it, and that an individual’s beliefs and values will have a significant impact on the information they promote as “factual” or “truthful”. Greek and Roman scientists remind us about this because they want readers to think about where information is coming from.
5. Science is for everyone
Our Roman astronomer Manilius says the only essential for students of science is “a teachable mind”. In other words, the ability to acquire new knowledge is all about interest and willingness to learn, rather than possessing any innate skill.
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Ancient scientists understood the importance of deferring to specialists and listening to expert advice. However, they were also keen for their readers to understand where scientists acquire knowledge and how scientific facts can be verified.
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I always have more respect for scientists who practice a little humility as some of these ancient scientists and philosophers appeared to have done.
A new guide aimed at helping aspiring science journalists in Turkey to cover scientific topics has been published.
‘Science Journalism in Turkey and Communicating Science to the Public’ (Türkiye’de Bilim Gazeteciliği ve Halka Doğru Bilim İletişimi) is the first Turkish science journalism guidebook for science journalists.
It was written by the science journalist and academic Dr. Gülsen Saray, and reviewed by editors and academics Prof. Dr. Akif Özer and Prof. Dr. Sefa Yüce.
The author, Saray, said: “This guide is a comprehensive resource for those navigating the dynamic profession of science journalism, and it highlights the importance and growth of science journalism in Turkey and Turkish-speaking countries. It will help ensure journalists produce higher-quality, more effective and impactful reporting which is a growing need driven by societal needs and technological developments.”
“The scope, context, and purpose of this guide are to offer practical advice to science journalists working in the field, drawing on the expertise and insights of contemporary and internationally successful science journalists and renowned science journalism institutions … I hope it will be an interesting and useful handbook to valued media members, students who choose the field of science journalism, people working in government or corporate public relations departments, and academics.”
The guide was published by the Balkan Network of Science Journalists and the European Federation for Science Journalism and is available on the BNSJ website.
“This is another in a series of expert guides written by local authors in local languages to make them accessible and relevant to local audiences – journalists wishing to report about science,” said Mićo Tatalović, a board member of the Balkan Network of Science Journalists, who has been coordinating the project. “It is an ambitious, book-length guide that should be a useful reference for both practitioners and those interested in the theory and practice of science journalism.”
Publication of the guide was made possible through the support of EurekAlert!, a science news release platform operated by the non-profit American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS).
“EurekAlert! is humbled by the opportunity to help support journalists in the Balkans through this locally accessible project,” said Brian Lin, director of editorial content strategy at EurekAlert!. “Our thanks to everyone involved in producing this guide.”
Author bio:
Dr. Gülsen Saray is a science journalist and columnist. She holds a PhD in science journalism, MA in political science and public administration, and BSc in civil engineering. She speaks Turkish, English, and German at an academic level, and has also learned French and Ottoman Turkish. She is also a qualified scientist who has gained experience based on experiments in the construction materials laboratory.
Seaweeds create marine habitats the same way trees do on land, producing food, places for whales to forage, and a significant amount of the oxygen we breathe. [downloaded from https://medium.com/ubcscience/seaweed-school-c597a6cf882f\
Floopy, floppy seaweeds have developed a following of sorts amongst scientists. Some study it from a botany and ocean sciences perspective and others from a materials perspective. A July 27, 2026 University of British Columbia (UBC) news release (also received via email) describes a special programme for children on Hornby Island (a Gulf Island found between the British Columbia mainland and Vancouver Island), Note: The wellness community has also discovered seaweeds,
Burying underwear in soil isn’t a typical science lesson. But for students on Hornby Island, it’s one way they can learn how seaweed supports local ecosystems.
The activity and others like it are part of Seaweed School, a unique partnership between UBC and Hornby Island that’s training the next generation of coastal scientists while helping local students stay in their home community for an extra year of school.
We sat down with Dr. Bridgette Clarkston (BC), school co-creator and an associate professor of teaching in UBC’s Department of Botany, and Seaweed School alumna Ava Zielinski (AZ), to discuss how the school is helping students care for the coast they call home.
Why should we care about seaweed?
BC: Seaweeds are the forests of our oceans, primary producers of ecosystems providing oxygen, food, carbon sequestration and more. But with climate change, we’re seeing drastic declines in some key species. So it’s important to get children—our future leaders and environmental guardians—hooked on protecting seaweeds from an early age.
We used to have much more extensive kelp forests in the inner Salish Sea, but most of the big canopy-forming kelps have perished over the last few decades, likely due to rising temperatures. The Hornby community wants to know how they can care for seaweeds in this time of climate change and ecological instability.
How did Seaweed School come to life?
BC: Hornby Island doesn’t have a high school. Starting in eighth grade, students face a two-hour, two-ferry commute to the nearest one in Courtenay, and some families end up moving away. I was approached by Heather Royal-Brant, a teacher at Hornby Island Community School, as part of an initiative by the school and the Hornby Island Natural History Centre to help Grade 8 students stay on the island for an extra year. Together, we co-created Seaweed School.
How is Seaweed School training the next generation of coastal scientists?
BC: Students are learning how to identify, study and monitor the seaweeds around Hornby Island. In the first year, they were assigned “seaweed buddies,” a seaweed species to learn about throughout the year. Along with UBC biology undergraduates, I taught middle school students how to collect and scientifically label specimens. These are now housed in the Beaty Biodiversity Museum with the students listed as the official collectors.
This year, Grade 7, 8 and 9 students are testing the power of seaweed compost, burying cotton underwear in soil treated with either seaweed tea (a fermented mix of seaweeds) or seaweed mulch straight from the sea, or in a control plot with no compost. The whole school voted on which treatment would decompose underwear the fastest. The seaweed tea won.
AZ: My “seaweed buddy” was Turkish towel (Chondracanthus exasperatus). I also learned about photosynthesis, how to press seaweed and how to identify some of the common species around Hornby.
My favourite fun fact is that most seaweeds around Hornby are edible and some have really good health benefits. If I’m down on the beach, I’ll snack on some.
My favourite lesson was when we did fieldwork with the UBC students. It got me thinking that I might want to go to university and share my seaweed knowledge with other students in the future.
What’s next for Seaweed School?
BC: Over the summer, the Seaweed School team will monitor vegetables planted in the “dirty underwear” plots to see which one yields the most produce.
We’re also running the Big Seaweed Search Hornby Island, a community-led seaweed monitoring program for the public. Every month, residents will identify different seaweed species using information cards the students created. This will run until the end of this year.
I would love to work with other communities and other schools. Working on this project has taught me the importance of having relationships with the land and reciprocity, so I would want build a relationship with a community and tailor the offering to their needs.
This research is funded by the Marine Environmental Observation, Prediction and Response Network.
Geoff Gilliard’s May 4, 2026 article (found on Medium) about Seaweed School provides additional detail,
On a gloriously sunny day 11 schoolchildren scamper barefoot across a beach on Hornby Island searching for seaweed. Who knew school could be so much fun?
Dr. Bridgette Clarkston did.
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Seaweeds are a subset of algae. The many thousands of species worldwide are classified into three branches of the seaweed family tree of life — red, brown and green. Seaweeds photosynthesize and are foundational to coastal marine ecosystems, but the three branches evolved independently. Red and green seaweeds are grouped together with land plants like mosses and vascular plants — brown seaweeds are related to microscopic algae called diatoms.
“We’re very lucky in this part of the world because there’s an overlap where two iconic kelp species live — bull kelp, Nereocystis luetkeana and giant kelp, Macrocystis tenuifolia,” says Dr. Clarkston, who specializes in seaweed biodiversity. “Think of these two ‘canopy-forming’ kelp as the redwoods or Douglas-fir trees of the underwater forest, reaching from the seafloor to the water’s surface, creating a three-dimensional underwater habitat.”
Coastal B.C. is a diversity hot spot hosting over 600 species of seaweeds. But climate change is driving drastic declines. Summer sea surface temperatures of the inner Salish Sea are hitting 20 or 21 degrees Celsius. That’s about six degrees too hot for some kelp to grow.
“We’re seeing declines in some kelp species in British Columbia for a number of reasons. In some areas, in particular the inner Salish Sea between Vancouver Island and the mainland, warming waters may be one of the biggest drivers of this loss,” Dr. Clarkston says. “Bull kelp used to be quite abundant in the waters near Hornby Island and my hometown of Comox. Now they’re gone.”
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Alongside Western science and traditional ecological knowledge, community involvement makes up the third strand of Seaweed School’s “braided lens” approach.
Seaweed fertilizer does what common farming practices no longer do — help rebuild and regenerate soil through enhancing its microbiological activity and adding essential nutrients. It’s a common method used at Hornby Island’s community garden where clinical herbalist and Seaweed School collaborator Angela Willard guided the students through a project called Dirty Undies.
“The dirty underwear test is a way to gauge the microbiological activity of your soil, and demonstrate the connection between the health of soil and seaweed,” explains Ms. Willard. “You bury 100 per cent cotton underwear in your garden and the faster the underwear rots, the healthier the soil — because it’s biodegrading the cotton. Usually the underwear is buried for a 60 day window. We chose to do 90 days because we took into account the winter months are cooler, so the microbial activity is a little bit slower.”
Late last winter, three plots were set aside in the Hornby Island community garden to run the Dirty Undies test. On the first plot only leaf mulch was applied — the control treatment. On a second plot, large amounts of seaweed were stacked in piles on the soil in the traditional way. The third plot was dosed with seaweed tea, concocted by adding seaweed to a water base and letting it “steep”. As the mixture ferments, seaweed nutrients are extracted and enhanced in the tea.
The goal of Dirty Undies is to see which pair of underwear buried in the three plots breaks down fastest. Seaweed tea requires much less seaweed than mulch. If the tea plot wins out over the other two, it could reduce the amount of biomass removed by gardeners from Hornby Island beaches, allowing the seaweed to remain and replenish the habitats.
At the end of the experiment, there was a bit of cotton left in the control treatment, and a tiny bit left in the stacked seaweed treatment. No cotton remained in the seaweed tea treated undies.
“Everyone in our school wrote down which test plot they thought would decompose undies the fastest and why,” says Ms. Royal [Heather Royal-Brant, teacher at Hornby Island Community School]. “It created natural enthusiasm in the community garden to engage with the scientific method. It’s one of the ripple effects Seaweed School has — now we’re rippling into the community gardeners.”
Hornby Island is nestled in the northern end of the Salish Sea between Vancouver Island and the mainland. Just over 1,200 people live on the 30 square kilometre island. [downloaded from https://medium.com/ubcscience/seaweed-school-c597a6cf882f]
Canada’s Perimeter Institute of Theoretical Physics (PI) is located in Waterloo, Ontario, Canada, which is where the July 2026 event is located.
I received a July 21, 2026 notice (via email) about an upcoming event,
July 2026
Black Hole Trivia Night at Perimeter Institute
Wednesday, July 29 [2026], from 5:30 – 7:30pm ET
Put your cosmic knowledge to the test at Black Hole Trivia Night at Perimeter Institute!
Join us for an evening of fun, friendly competition, and universe-sized questions in our Black Hole Bistro. Whether you’re a lifelong science enthusiast or simply curious about the cosmos, everyone is welcome.
Doors open at 5:00 p.m., so come early, grab a bite, and settle in before trivia begins at 6:00 p.m. Bring your friends, challenge your knowledge, and enjoy an evening of great company.
No PhD required. Just curiosity. Reserve your in-person tickets today.
The day before the trivia night notice on July 20, 2026, PI sent an announcement (via email) about an upcoming eclipse and which included a number of links to articles about physics-inspired topics,
Where you can see the August solar eclipse
A solar eclipse is happening on Wednesday, August 12, 2026. Learn where you can see it.
How time bends, warps, and changes throughout the universe
Most of us think of time as pretty straightforward; it moves onward at a steady pace, never stopping or changing for anything. A second is a second. A day is 24 hours. A year is one trip around the sun.
But once you leave Earth, time loses that straightforward nature. A day on another planet won’t last 24 hours, an astronaut will age at a different rate in space than back home, and a telescope’s lens acts like a window into the past. So why exactly do these things happen? Let’s explore.
What does cryptography have to do with quantum gravity?
Alex May, Murray Gell-Mann Chair in Theoretical Physics at Perimeter Institute, gives us a quick lesson on cryptography techniques shining new light on quantum gravity.
Researchers detect “frame dragging” around merging black holes
By comparing theoretical models with signals from a real gravitational wave event, they’ve created a new tool for understanding the strongest gravity regions in our universe.
Alice and Bob’s Quantum Adventure: A (free) downloadable picture book
Storytime just got a little more quantum! This new picture book by two Perimeter PhD students brings the magic of Bell’s theorem to life for young scientists-to-be.
Taking It Back: Reclaiming What Was Stolen With Nalo Hopkinson
Join us for an intimate evening with Jamaican-born author Nalo Hopkinson, recipient of the Sunburst Award for Excellence in Canadian Literature of the Fantastic for her novel Blackheart Man. Hopkinson thinks a lot about how rising ocean levels impact her region. She will present two climate fiction stories, ranging from science-based to the disquieting monologue narrated by a guide leading a tour of a recently submerged island.
Presented in partnership with UBC [University of British Columbia] Global History of Anticolonial Thought.
Doors at 6:30pm Reading at 7:00pm Q&A at 8:00pm
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About the Author Nalo Hopkinson, born in Jamaica, moved to Canada in 1977. She was the 1997 recipient of the Warner Aspect First Novel Contest for Brown Girl in the Ring. She has published seven novels, numerous short stories, and comics scripts in DC’s “Sandman” universe. She has received the Ontario Arts Council Foundation Award, the John W. Campbell and Locus Awards, the World Fantasy Award, Canada’s Aurora Award, the Sunburst Award for Canadian Literature of the Fantastic, and the Octavia E. Butler Memorial Award. In 2020, Science Fiction Writers of America made her its 37th Damon Knight Memorial “Grand Master,” a lifetime achievement award in recognition of her writing, teaching, and mentorship. She is a professor in the School of Creative Writing at the University of British Columbia. Her most recent publications are Blackheart Man (novel, Simon & Schuster, 2024), and short story collection Jamaica Ginger and Other Concoctions (Tachyon Publications, 2024).
About the Moderator Ayesha Hameed is an artist and writer. She has two books forthcoming in Autumn 2026: Black Atlantis (Strange Attractor/MIT Press) and Radio Brown Atlantis (CARA, NY). She’s Professor of Artistic Research at University of the Arts Helsinki and teaches on the MFA at Goldsmiths University of London.
For some reason, they won’t let me reproduce the RSVP button. So, you will have to visit the event and RSVP page and click there.
Canadian Science Policy Centre (CSPC) and the Security, Sovereignty, and Prosperity: Industry Perspectives on Canada’s New Defence Industrial Strategy event
Here are the details for an upcoming online panel discussion from a May 13, 2026 Canadian Science Policy Centre (CSPC) notice (received via email),
May 20 [2026]: Security, Sovereignty, and Prosperity: Industry Perspectives on Canada’s New Defence Industrial Strategy
Join us for a panel on how Canada’s participation in the Square Kilometre Array Observatory can s [sic; a leftover from a previous notice?]
Join us on May 20, 2026, from 12:00–1:30 PM EST for a panel discussion on Canada’s recently released Defence Industrial Strategy (DIS), which marks a significant shift at the intersection of national security and industrial policy. Central to the strategy is the “Joint Innovation” model, calling for sustained collaboration between the federal government and the private sector to build sovereign capabilities. This high-level panel will bring together leaders from Canada’s mining, advanced manufacturing, and technology sectors to explore how the DIS aligns with industry-specific challenges—from critical mineral supply chains to dual-use technologies such as AI and quantum—and to discuss its potential to drive industrial growth, the barriers to effective collaboration, and its long-term impact on Canada’s innovation ecosystem and global competitiveness.
Panellists will explore how the strategy’s goals align with the unique challenges of their respective industries, from critical mineral supply chains to dual-use technology development in AI and Quantum. The discussion will focus on how the DIS can serve as a catalyst for industrial growth, the hurdles to achieving seamless “Joint Innovation,” and the long-term impact of this strategy on Canada’s broader innovation ecosystem and global competitiveness.
Charlotte Duval-Lantoine – Moderator
Vice-President, Ottawa Operations & Fellow, Canadian Global Affairs Institute
Jayson Myers
Chief Executive Officer of Next Generation Manufacturing Canada
Photinie Koutsavlis
Vice President, Economic Affairs and Climate Change, Mining Association of Canada
Daniel Perry
Director of Federal Affairs at the Council of Canadian Innovators
Mike Mueller
President and CEO, Aerospace Industries Association of Canada
This seems like a pretty hectic spring where science events are concerned; I expect things will slow down as summer arrives.
Thanks to the May 12, 2026 notice about recent science stories of interest (received via email and available online here for a time) from the Science Media Centre of Canada (SMCC), I have a few science communication opportunities
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Job opening: Senior Producer of Health, Climate, Science Unit, CBC [Canadian Broadcasting Corporation] News Application deadline: May 20, 2026 | 23:59 ET
This is a digital-first role. You’re as comfortable assigning a TikTok video as you are a text story for the website. Based in Toronto, this is a permanent, full-time position five days a week in office. Find out more> [Note: This will take you to CBC’s LinkedIn posting; I have some details about this job later in this posting.]
Job opening: Western Canada correspondent, N.Y. Times [New York Times]
Please note that the location of the role within Western Canada will be discussed during the interview process. The annual base pay range for this role is between: $CAD 158,000—$235,000. Find out more> [Note: Strictly speaking, this is not a science journalism job but I couldn’t resist; here are some details about this job later in this posting.]
Webinar: Reporting holistically on Arctic sovereignty
Science Writers and Communicators of Canada May 26, 2026 | 17:00–18:00 ET Location: Zoom Hear from independent journalists and storytellers based in Canada’s territories who are reporting on sovereignty from the front lines to help expand our collective understanding of this political moment. Free for SWCC members | $30 CAD for non-members. Read more> [Note: I have more about this rather puzzling webinar later in this posting.]
Knight-Risser Fund for Western Environmental Journalism
Stanford University Submission deadline: June 2, 2026 | 16:00 ET Up to $10,000 is available to support an enterprise or investigative environmental story set in the western United States. Read more>
More on CBC Senior Producer of Health, Climate, Science Unit
These job posting details are from the Ladders website, Note 1: I have rearranged the order of the information; Note 2: You can apply for the job from the Ladders website; Note 3: A link has been removed,
CBC News is looking for a talented journalist, exceptional leader and subject matter expert who can run our Health, Climate and Science teams.
As senior producer, you will guide a team of multi-platform journalists tackling complex and pressing issues. You are passionate about finding and telling stories within these beats that audiences will relate and respond to. Strong news judgement is key: You’re tapped into the latest health and wellness trends, can engage people on climate coverage, and have a passion for telling stories about science, space and technology.
You are ready to jump on breaking news and tackle the stories people are talking about. You also embrace original and enterprise stories and foster an environment that encourages reporters and producers to pitch ideas. You inspire teams to cover these stories in a way that gives the audience the news they crave, whether it’s explaining why something works or debunking unfounded claims.
This is a digital-first role. You’re as comfortable assigning a TikTok video as you are a text story for the website. You know when to have your teams go live and when they should focus on content that is more evergreen.
You have experience dealing with complicated health, climate and science stories and a firm grasp of the CBC’s Journalistic Standards and Practices. You will be required to critically evaluate emerging research and studies. You have subject matter knowledge of the beats and a roster of sources and connections.
You are an inclusive leader. You bring an understanding of how important diversity of perspective is to our journalism and you think of stories that will resonate with different communities across Canada.
Based in Toronto, this is a permanent, full-time position shifted Monday to Friday, with a start time of 8 a.m. ET and an expectation of working overtime, weekends and holidays as required. This job is five days a week in office.
…
CBC/Radio-Canada • $90K — $120K * Toronto, ON M3C 0E3 In-Person Media 5 – 7 years of experience …
Job Overview by Ladders
Qualifications
Minimum 7 years of relevant experience in journalism and leadership.
Exceptional leadership and organizational skills.
Strong understanding of health, science, and climate change topics.
Cultural sensitivity with experience in under-represented communities.
Familiarity with the CBC’s Journalistic Standards and Practices.
Ability to recognize and act on important issues in a timely manner.
Skills in generating original story ideas and overseeing journalism.
Responsibilities
Assign teams of multi-platform journalists to news and enterprise stories.
Map out coverage plans based on priority health, climate and science stories.
Align assignments with CBC News content strategy for timely delivery.
Propose and advocate for coverage plans in daily meetings.
Reflect Canada’s diversity in story selection and prioritization.
Collaborate with leadership across CBC News for cohesive reporting.
Develop and maintain contacts within a variety of sourcing networks.
Provide constructive feedback to reporting teams on their work.
Benefits
Permanent, full-time employment status.
In-office work environment five days a week.
Opportunities for professional growth and leadership development.
Exposure to impactful journalism on health, climate, and science.
Contributors to a diverse workplace culture and team.
Engagement with innovative digital and multi-platform storytelling.
The New York Times is looking for a talented, experienced and versatile journalist to join our International team as a Western Canada correspondent, based in Western Canada. The correspondent will cover the region as well as broader issues that impact Canada, including migration, intelligence, security and politics.
This is a chance to join a committed team of reporters and editors who have a history of award-winning work, an eagerness to experiment with new story forms, and a passion for bringing Times journalism to a truly global audience across digital, print and other media. The role requires energy, passion and talent for what is a critical assignment for The New York Times.
We are looking for an entrepreneurial correspondent. In this role, you must be as comfortable covering immediate breaking news as you are writing thoughtfully and deeply on a variety of themes and issues. And above all, you must be collaborative and eager to work with, and learn from, Times colleagues in bureaus around the world. The successful candidate will bring keen analytical skills to their coverage as they think about regional and topical storylines.
The role will report to the editor overseeing Canada.
Main responsibilities:
Cover live and breaking news, enterprise and investigations in the region
Generate ideas on coverage including specific targets or broad themes;
Write articles on deadline; receive feedback and edits
Familiarity with audience tactics to reach new readers across platforms
Build a network of sources across multiple subject areas
Collaborate with other reporters in the region during major news moments
Work with colleagues across Photo, Video, Audio and other departments to bring stories to life in a variety of formats across all NYT products
Demonstrate support and understanding of our value of journalistic independence and a strong commitment to our mission to seek the truth and help people understand the world.
Qualifications:
Proven strong international reporting and writing experience, preferably for a global news organization
Ability to juggle breaking news, smart analysis and ambitious enterprise
Detailed and expert understanding of the nation’s history and clarity about the intricacies of federal and provincial politics within Canada
Proactive problem solver
Thrive in a fast-paced, deadline-oriented environment
Ability to work on several assignments at once; produce insightful enterprise and news coverage; cultivate and manage sources/stringers; apply relevant experience to pursue ideas in consultation
Familiar with local and national news outlets with a current knowledge of relevant sources
Collegial and collaborative behavior, integrity with assignments
Commitment to The New York Times’s strategy, ethics, standards and mission for both themselves, their team, stringers and colleagues
In order to be considered for this role, please submit your resume, cover letter, and links to your top 5-7 clips. Please note that the location of the role within Western Canada will be discussed during the interview process.
The annual base pay range for this role is between: $158,000—$235,000 CAD
REQ-019873
For roles in the U.S., dependent on your role, you may be eligible for variable pay, such as an annual bonus and restricted stock. Benefits may include medical, dental and vision benefits, Flexible Spending Accounts (F.S.A.s), a company-matching 401(k) plan, paid vacation, paid sick days, paid parental leave, tuition reimbursement and professional development programs.
For roles outside of the U.S., information on benefits will be provided during the interview process.
..
Reporting holistically (?) on Arctic sovereignty (?): Incorporating science, community and culture
Maybe I’m the only one who’s tired of the word ‘holistic’? It seems redundant when there’s this, “incorporating science, …. .
Canada’s Arctic is an important region for the country and is central to discussions of sovereignty. Yet Arctic sovereignty is far more complex than what’s typically conveyed in the news cycle. How does sovereignty shape Arctic communities beyond infrastructure and business investments, and how can the media report on the climate, community and cultural impacts of these developments?
In this virtual discussion, hear from independent journalists and storytellers based in Canada’s territories who are reporting on sovereignty from the front lines to help expand our collective understanding of this political moment.
Date: Tuesday, May 26, 2026 from 5:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. ET via Zoom
Cost: Free for SWCC Members / $30 CAD for Non-Members
Are you a non-member of SWCC registering for this event? If you decide to become a member of SWCC within 2 weeks of the event date, your membership fee (in the applicable category) will be discounted by the amount you paid for event registration. To activate your discounted membership within the 2-week period, email office@sciencewriters.ca.
Moderator: Meral Jamal
Meral Jamal is an independent journalist. Originally from the United Arab Emirates, she is based in Iqaluit and writes news and feature stories from across Canada’s North.
Speaker: Pat Kane
Pat is a visual storyteller and writer based in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, on the traditional land of the Yellowknives Dene First Nation. He takes a documentary approach to stories about life in Northern Canada, with a special focus on issues important to Indigenous people, including the relationship between land and identity.
Pat is a National Geographic Explorer, a 2020 World Press Photo Joop Swart Masterclass mentee, and the recipient of the 2024 Dr. Jane Goodall Vital Impacts Environmental Photography grant. His work has been exhibited in galleries and at festivals internationally, and published by National Geographic, The New York Times, World Press Photo, The Atlantic, The Globe and Mail, The Walrus and other leading publications worldwide.
Pat is of Irish-Canadian and Algonquin (Anishinaabe) ancestry, and is a member of the Timiskaming First Nation.
Speaker: Dustin Patar
Dustin Patar is a freelance visual journalist who lives and works in Iqaluit, Nunavut. His work often focuses on the Canadian Arctic, including Inuit culture, the impacts of a changing climate, daily life and sovereignty. His photography has been exhibited both in Canada and internationally, and his stories have been published by The Globe and Mail, Canadian Geographic, The Walrus, The Narwhal, and CBC, among others. When he isn’t holding a camera or in front of a computer, he can be found behind a sewing machine, fixing some sort of vehicle, or out on the land.
As for the The Knight-Risser Prize for Western Environmental Journalism, go here.
A May 2026 notice from Ingenium, Canada’s museums of science and innovation (comprising the Canada Agriculture and Food Museum, the Canada Aviation and Space Museum, and the Canada Science and Technology Museum) arrived via email on April 30, 2026 (available for a limited time here). Two items are being highlighted here. First,
From apples to insects: The artists who brought science to life
Art and science have always shared a common thread: the power of observation. For centuries, scientists, especially those studying plants and insects, have used art to record and share their discoveries. Since 1913, the Central Experimental Farm has been a hub for this intersection of creativity and inquiry.
Opening May 1 [2026] at the Canada Agriculture and Food Museum, the exhibition, The Art of Science: A century of illustrating agriculture at the Central Experimental Farm , celebrates four artists who have shaped the farm’s legacy. They include Arthur Kellett, Faith Fyles [emphasis mine], and Frank Hennessey, who worked there from 1913 to 1948, and Jessica Hsiung, the current scientific illustrator at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada. Together, they’ve captured everything from new apple varieties to Canada’s diverse native insects, leaving a lasting mark on both science and art.
Concurrently, “the Ottawa Art Gallery/Galerie d’art d’Ottawa (AGO/GAO) has an exhibition dedicated to one of the artists featured at the Canada Agriculture and Food Museum exhibition, “Faith Fyles: In Full Bloom,” which runs until September 27, 2026. (You can find more about it here in my March 27, 2026 posting.
Double the discount for CAA [Canadian Automobile Association] members!
CAA Members: join us for a day of fun and discovery with Ingenium! On May 23 [2026], CAA members will enjoy 50% off admission to all three Ingenium museums. That’s double the usual discount! Present a valid CAA card to receive discounted admission for up to four people.
Can’t visit on May 23 [2026]? No problem! Thanks to CAA’s partnership with Ingenium, CAA Members always save 25% on individual museum tickets and 10% on Ingenium memberships.
H/t Science Media Centre of Canada (SMCC) April 21, 2026 science media announcements,
Quanta Magazine is looking for an early-career science journalist for its summer/fall 2026 writing fellowship in New York City. The six-month program will give the successful applicant extensive experience writing news and features about physics, mathematics, biology and computer science. …
That image of a ‘crochet motor’ should give you some idea of the imagination used in Quanta Magazine articles. I can’t find a deadline for applying; the position was posted online April 6, 2026 or thereabouts. Nor was there information about eligibility. but presumably you’d have to be eligible to work in the US and live in New York City. From the Science Writing Fellow, Quanta Magazine webpage,
POSITION SUMMARY Quanta Magazine is looking for an early-career science journalist for its summer/fall 2026 writing fellowship. This six-month program will give the successful applicant extensive experience writing news and features about one or more areas that Quanta covers: physics, mathematics, biology and computer science.
We expect our writing fellow to deeply engage with what’s going on in basic science and mathematics; to develop their skills as a reporter, writer and thinker; and to gain experience with our video, art, production and audience engagement teams. The fellow should leave Quanta with a strong understanding of the best practices in science journalism, insights into the workings of a digital-media publication, and writing clips that showcase their abilities as a journalist.
This full-time paid fellowship will take place in-person between July and December at the Simons Foundation offices in New York City.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS/RESPONSIBILITIES
Pitch, report and write news articles.
Assist editors with research and fact checking.
Collaborate with the art and production teams on research, illustrations and infographics.
Develop standalone content to be shared on Quanta’s social media accounts and newsletters, in conjunction with the audience engagement team.
Assist as necessary with the development and production of Quanta’s video and podcast offerings.
Perform other duties or tasks as assigned or required.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
Education
Bachelor’s degree
Experience
A background or strong interest in reporting and writing about complex topics, and physics, mathematics, biology or computer science in particular.
Familiarity with journalistic style and standards.
REQUIRED APPLICATION MATERIALS
Résumé
Cover letter describing your interest in this position
Five writing clips
COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS
This fellowship pays $29 per hour and is eligible for medical benefits.
ABOUT QUANTA
Quanta Magazine is an award-winning, editorially independent online publication launched by the Simons Foundation to enhance public understanding of science. Our reporters and editors focus on developments in mathematics, theoretical physics, theoretical computer science and the basic life sciences, with an emphasis on delivering timely, accurate, in-depth and well-crafted articles for our broad, discerning audience. Quanta was awarded a 2022 Pulitzer Prize in explanatory reporting, a 2020 National Magazine Award for general excellence, and a 2025 National Magazine Award for best single-topic issue. Quanta has syndication partnerships with Wired, The Atlantic and other publications, has published two books (Alice and Bob Meet the Wall of Fire and The Prime Number Conspiracy) and our articles have been translated into several languages.
Our Commitment to Expanding Pathways to Science & Opportunities for All:
Many of the greatest ideas and discoveries come from a diverse mix of minds, backgrounds, and experiences. The Simons Foundation is committed to advancing basic science and mathematics to benefit humankind and expand our collective understanding of our world. As part of our mission, we support partners, programs, and initiatives that seek to broaden the scientific community and open pathways to science and mathematics careers.
The Simons Foundation provides equal opportunities to all applicants without regard to race, religion, color, age, sex, pregnancy, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic disposition, neurodiversity, disability, veteran status, or any other protected category under federal, state, and local law.
The Simons Foundation is a private foundation in New York City whose mission is to advance the frontiers of research in mathematics and the basic sciences. Founded in 1994 by Jim and Marilyn Simons, the foundation supports transformative science through grantmaking, in-house research and public engagement. The Simons Foundation provides grants in autism science and neuroscience; life sciences; mathematics and physical sciences; and science, society and culture. The foundation’s in-house research division, the Flatiron Institute, develops and deploys computational methods to advance basic scientific research. Visit the Simons Foundation career page to learn more
Salary and Benefits In addition to competitive salaries, the Simons Foundation provides employees with an outstanding benefits package.
Our Commitment to Expanding Pathways to Science & Opportunities for All:
Many of the greatest ideas and discoveries come from a diverse mix of minds, backgrounds, and experiences. The Simons Foundation is committed to advancing basic science and mathematics to benefit humankind and expand our collective understanding of our world. As part of our mission, we support partners, programs, and initiatives that seek to broaden the scientific community and open pathways to science and mathematics careers.
If you have the time, do visit the Simons Foundation career page, which leads with “Let’s transform math and science — together” Definitely worth a read.
