Merritt Science Communications Award

Gather, Share, Teach Episode 2: Dr. Gene Likens and the Origins of Hubbard Brook

The 2021 Merritt Award Winner is Tyler Edwards, a junior majoring in biology, for an episode in her podcast titled “Gather, Share, Teach" that introduces listeners to Gene Likens and the origins of the Hubbard Brook Ecosystem Study.

Although casual listeners may not be familiar with the name Gene Likens, he has been a giant in the field of environmentalism for decades. Along with his colleagues, Likens came up with the idea of using detailed chemical studies of water draining from an ecosystem to help measure its activity and health, much like analyzing blood for indicators of human health. Since 1955, the long-running Hubbard Brook study has proven the harmful effects of acid rain and provided evidence for the passage of the 1990 Clean Air Act amendments, among many other contributions.

The judges found the podcast to be equally entertaining and informative, thanks to Edwards’s thorough efforts to provide scientific context alongside her ability as an interviewer to draw out pertinent, engaging stories from Likens. The additions of music expository recordings, along with the deft editing of the interview, left the judges wondering where the 23 minutes had gone by the time the episode concluded. Balancing information, entertainment and pacing in a podcast is a difficult task, and the judges thought Edwards made the juggling act seem effortless.

Honorable Mention: Yuexuan Chen and Imari Walker Karega

The committee also recognized Yuexuan Chen, a senior studying biology, and Imari Walker Karega, a PhD candidate in civil and environmental engineering, with Honorable Mentions.

Chen was recognized for her article "Life in the 'Cabin': Two Months Fighting COVID-19 in Wuhan,” which takes readers on an insider’s journey through the whirlwind faced by health care workers in Wuhan in the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic. The judges were impressed with Chen’s ability to capture, in depth, the firsthand experience of a provider on the front lines of the pandemic through interviews conducted in Mandarin, which she wove into a gripping narrative that never loses the reader along the way.

Walker Karega was recognized for her YouTube video, “10 Facts You NEED to Know About Microplastics,” which teaches viewers about the growing environmental and human health issues arising from tiny pieces of plastics. The judges loved Walker Karega’s flair for entertaining presentations of a serious subject, her combination of clear explanations backed by clearly presented scientific references, and her infectious passion for the topic.

Which Weighs More, a Pound of Stone or a Pound of Styrofoam?

The 2020 Merritt Award winner is Meredith Schmehl, a PhD student in the Department of Neurobiology, for her Scientific American article that takes a common riddle and turns it on its head, leading readers to a surprising conclusion.

While one might expect the answer to be that both weigh the same, Schmehl takes readers through research that reveals that a pound of Styrofoam insulation actually feels heavier to a person than a pound of stone, when compared side-by-side, and the theories behind why this phenomenon exists.

The judges found the topic intriguing and enjoyed the element of surprise in the counterintuitive answer. Both the topic and the writing appealed to a wide audience, explaining scientific topics in an approachable manner while simultaneously conveying difficult concepts. The judges also appreciated that the article wrapped up by tying the research to a real-world application—how these concepts might be applied to recommendation-making algorithms for consumers. 

Honorable Mention: Jessica Wang 

The committee also recognized Jessica Wang, a junior majoring in environmental sciences, with an Honorable Mention for her YouTube video “Sieyken: A Community at the Brink of Change.”

The judges thought that the video was beautifully framed and shot. Ambitious and tightly edited, the video showcased the impact of climate change on a community, providing a powerful message and documenting the effects on the ecosystem and people for the historical record.

Duke Conservation Tech: Open Tag Project

The 2019 winning entry is a rich video that beautifully weaves together graphic animation, still photography, drone and underwater footage and original interviews to share how a team of Duke students designed (and re-designed) a low-cost, open-source tracking tag to facilitate diving animal research in developing areas.

The judges were impressed with the variety of skills Ms. Go, an undergraduate majoring in biology, brought to the project. The resulting piece not only clearly explains the design process and engineering challenges, but tells a well-paced and visually compelling story—and does a great job conveying the Duke Conservation Tech team’s passion for their work.

States May Be Intentionally Poisoning Each Other With Toxic Air

Judges felt that the well-structured and beautifully written “States May Be Intentionally Poisoning Each Other With Toxic Air” stood out amongst a strong group of contenders to earn the top prize of the 2018 Merritt Award. Written by Aaron Reuben, a graduate student in clinical psychology, the long-form piece was originally published on the Vice website Tonic that covers wellness, science and big-picture health issues. The piece explored the implications of a study finding that most air polluting facilities across the United States have been systematically sited at state downwind borders, where the particles, soot, and heavy metals they pump out will be carried to neighboring states. The judges felt the article flawlessly weaved a wide range of scientific research and sources together with vibrant characters that brought what otherwise could be a dry topic into the human realm.

Honorable Mention

The committee also recognized Alex Rudee as a runner-up for his strong submission “What Happens When the Saguaros Disappear?”  It was published as a blog post by the National Parks Conservation Association. The piece explores how climate change is slowly diminishing one of the Southwest’s iconic plants while bringing in insightful viewpoints from local Native American cultures.

Are Our Scientific Heroes Too Heroic?

Judges selected the thought-provoking "Are Our Scientific Heroes Too Heroic?" from among several strong entries to be the winner of the 2017 Merritt Award. Originally published in the guest blog on ScientificAmerican.com, the article was written by Brenda Yang, a PhD student in psychology and neuroscience. Her article is a meditation on how the manner in which stories of scientific success are told may change the performance of students studying science. Judges praised Yang's inspiring and self-reflective work, which included references to her experiences as a teacher and a student.

Honorable Mention

The committee also recognized Matthew Scult's "Training the Brain's Motivation Center." The article also appeared on ScientificAmerican.com. It presents an engaging first-person look at neurofeedback research in the Adcock Lab at Duke.

Young Daredevils: Children Are Just as Willing as Teenagers to Take Risks

From among several strong entries, the judges selected “Young Daredevils” as the winner of the 2016 Merritt Award.

Originally published on Slate.com, the article was written by Rosa Li, a PhD student in psychology and neuroscience, and featured her own research. The judges praised the entry as a well-written, solidly reported, compelling and highly accessible piece that provides an excellent model for other researchers who wish to share their work with the general public.

Honorable Mentions

The committee also recognized two excellent submissions as runners-up:

• The Worm Turns, by biology PhD student Sheena Faherty. The article was originally published in The Philadelphia Inquirer.
• Building Batteries from the Microstructure Up, by civil engineering PhD student Andrew Stershic. The article was originally published in DEIXIS, the annual magazine of the U.S. Department of Energy Computational Science Graduate Fellowship program.

Ebola Chat

EbolaChat, a video by undergraduate students Anastasia Lambrou and Joshua Latner, was selected as the winner of the inaugural Merritt Science Journalism Award.

The judges cited the entry as a creatively produced, accessible and compelling video that met its goal of educating high-schoolers and other members of the general public about Ebola thanks to the team’s sound understanding of how to communicate clearly about a complex scientific topic.

Runners-Up

The committee also recognized two excellent submissions as runners-up:

• Can Humans Hibernate? Ask the Dwarf Lemur, a Scientific American blog post by biology graduate student Sheena Faherty
• Engineering Low-cost Methods to Assess Water Safety in South Africa, a series of posts on the Duke Global Health Institute Diaries from the Field Blog by biomedical engineering major Brittany Davis