Four science communicators with Indian roots, Rupsa Chakraborty, Aatish Bhatia, Harini Bhat and Anand Varma, are among the winners of the 2026 Eric and Wendy Schmidt Awards for Excellence in Science Communications.
The awards announced by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine in partnership with Schmidt Sciences recognize journalists, research scientists and science communicators whose work helps the public understand developments in science, engineering and medicine.
Bhatia, associated with The New York Times, won the top prize in the Science Journalist: Early Career category.
His recognized work includes: “Can You Stop an Outbreak of a Contagious Disease?”; “30 Charts That Show How Covid Changed Everything in March 2020″; and “Your Zodiac Sign Is 2,000 Years Out of Date.”
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According to the National Academies, Bhatia uses interactive graphics, data visualization and custom-built tools to help audiences explore scientific ideas. His work draws on his background in physics, education, programming and journalism to explain subjects ranging from infectious disease to changes in the night sky.
Harini Bhat received the top prize in the Science Communicator: Organizational category for work published through “Today I Learned Science.” Her recognized projects include: “The Unholy Trinity That Derailed Women’s Health”; “First Female Crash Test Dummy”; and “Mirror Bacteria.”
The National Academies cited her approach to making subjects such as women’s health and emerging biotechnology accessible through digital storytelling. The organization also highlighted her use of personal perspectives alongside scientific research to engage audiences and encourage broader participation in science.
Varma, a science photographer with WonderLab, was named a winner in the Science Communicator: Organizational category. The National Academies described Varma’s work as using photography and visual experimentation to reveal the beauty and complexity of the natural world. His approach combines science and visual storytelling to encourage audiences to look more closely at scientific subjects.
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Chakraborty was recognized in the Science Journalist: Freelancer category.
The four recipients represent different ways of communicating science: journalism that examines scientific issues, interactive explanations that invite exploration, digital content that connects research with everyday concerns, and photography that makes scientific phenomena visible.
The winners will be honored Nov. 17-20 in Washington, D.C. The 2026 awards drew more than 750 entries for work published or aired in 2025. The program distributed $640,000 across its eight categories, with one $40,000 top prize and two $20,000 awards in each category.
The awards aim to strengthen public understanding of science by recognizing work that makes research and discovery accessible to audiences beyond the scientific community.