A Pakistani academic, Syed Muhammad Abubakar, has won the Joe Witte Special Recognition in Science Communication Leadership award by George Mason University (GMU), US.
Abubakar was nominated for this award on behalf of the communication graduate faculty at GMU for work in science communication and stellar performance in various courses as part of his ongoing PhD studies. The award ceremony took place at GMU on May 12.
According to Dr. Chris Clarke, Associate Professor and Director of PhD in Communication Program, GMU, “Science communication is a key focus of our graduate program, especially within the PhD program. The Joe Witte Special Recognition in Science Communication is awarded to a student who demonstrates excellence in science communication research and scholarship. The award is named in honour of Joe Witte, who received his MA in Science Communication at George Mason after a decades-long career as a professional broadcast meteorologist. At Mason, Joe studied the role of meteorologists as effective climate change communicators, and the Witte Award winners exemplify Joe’s passion for science communication research and practice.”
Dr. Clarke further said, “Abubakar, as we know him, is a second-year PhD student who came to George Mason’s PhD program in Science Communication as an award-winning, Pakistan-born and raised journalist with a passion for climate change communication and climate journalism. He is currently pursuing research on challenges Pakistani journalists face in reporting on climate change, along with potential solutions to strengthen their reporting capacity. As one Mason COMM faculty member put it, Abubakar is highly dedicated to his craft and passionate about the intersection of climate change communication and journalism.”
