Museum of Science and Industry

A new award scheme is being launched by the Museum of Science and Industry (MOSI) as part of the upcoming Manchester Science Festival, in memory of the Museum's former Science Communicator, Josh Phillips.

The Joshua Phillips Award for Innovation in Science Engagement (Josh Award) will be given annually and is open to anyone involved in making science interesting and relevant to a mainstream audience. The winner will have the chance to demonstrate their skills, as Science Communicator in Residence at the Manchester Science Festival, which is led by MOSI during 20 to 28 October 2007.

Josh Phillips, 35, died in a road accident in November 2006. He was renowned for his innovative and fun approach to getting people of all ages interested in science. The new award, which also includes a cash prize of £1000 and a trophy, aims to encourage science communicators in the early stages of their careers to come up with creative ideas which inspire people of all ages about science.

Ian Griffin, Director at MOSI said:

"Josh was a much-loved and respected science communicator at the Museum. We wanted to continue the spirit of his innovative and down-to-earth approach by encouraging others to do inspiring work to promote science. The Josh Award is a great opportunity for someone in the early stages of their science engagement career to put their ideas into practice and help to show a new audience just how important science is in our every day lives.

"The North West has always been renowned for its role in science and technology, but fewer and fewer young people are choosing to study science. This award helps to support those who are helping to promote science to a wide audience, and hopefully encourage the next generation to choose it as a career option in the future."

This year is the first year of the Manchester Science Festival, a nine-day celebration of Manchester's achievements in science, technology, engineering and maths, coordinated by MOSI. The Festival aims to work with a wide variety of venues across the city, to inspire the region's next generation of innovators. It will celebrate the North West's role in scientific discovery and innovation, from pioneering scientists such as John Dalton, Ernest Rutherford and Joule, to the region's continued leading position today in many areas of cutting edge science and technology. There will be events throughout Manchester, held in over 25 key cultural, scientific and business organisations.

The Manchester Science Festival and the Josh Award will be an annual event in Manchester. Nominations must be made by 31 July and cannot be made by the nominee.

For more information on nominations for the Josh Award please contact Sarah Trinder on Tel: 0161 606 0102 email: s.trinder@mosi.org.uk

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