The writer, screenwriter and audiovisual producer has been awarded for her contribution to scientific dissemination
This October 23, the Museu de Ciències Naturals de Barcelona held the award ceremony for the seventh edition of the Nat Prize, which this year recognized the career of the writer, screenwriter, and audiovisual producer Ann Druyan, one of the most prominent figures in scientific dissemination worldwide. The honoree has been acclaimed for her exceptional contributions to projects such as NASA’s interstellar Voyager message and the co-creation of the iconic television series Cosmos, co-written with her late husband Carl Sagan.
The event was chaired by Jordi Valls, Deputy Mayor of Economy, Finance, Economic Promotion and Tourism of Barcelona, and Carles Lalueza, director of the Museu de Ciències Naturals. Joan Anton Català, scientific communicator, conducted the ceremony, which included Ann Druyan’s conference entitled “At the Door of the Stars”. During her speech, Druyan shared reflections on her participation in projects such as Voyager, a space mission that continues to carry the voice of humanity to deep space, and her contribution to Cosmos (1980), one of the most successful scientific series in the history of television, which marked an entire generation and transformed scientific dissemination, reaching millions of people around the world.
Ann Druyan has been an activist committed to science for many years, which has led her to be internationally recognized. In addition to her work on Cosmos, she has co-written several highly successful books with Carl Sagan, including The Comet and Shadows of Forgotten Ancestors. Her influence on science and popular culture has been recognized with numerous awards, including the Richard Dawkins Award for the Promotion of Reason and Science.
The Nat Prize, endowed with 5,000 euros, annually recognizes people or institutions that have stood out for their ability to disseminate natural sciences and promote scientific vocations, such as David Attenborough, Elisabeth Rasekoala or Itsaso Vélez del Burgo. The jury was made up of experts in science and communication.
This year, the collaboration of the Fundació Catalana per a la Recerca i la Innovació has been key in organizing the event.