World Congress of Science and Factual Producers (WCSFP), in collaboration with Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, has unveiled a new initiative that it says “reflects the evolving landscape of science storytelling across multiple platforms”.
A key part of the initiative is the inaugural Sloan Buzzies Award, a new category in WCSFP’s Buzzies Awards, created to spotlight digital-first science storytelling. Underwritten by the Sloan Foundation, the award includes a US$10,000 prize for an outstanding digital-first creator or team whose work brings clarity, creativity, and rigor to complex scientific topics through innovative use of online platforms.
“This new award reflects our belief that great science storytelling can thrive across platforms, and that digital creators are playing an increasingly vital role in how global audiences engage with complex ideas,” commented Adam Kirkham, director of partnerships for WCSFP (pictured). “We’re grateful to the Sloan Foundation for supporting the Congress commitment to amplifying these voices.”
In addition to the award, Sloan’s support will enable three digital creators to join WCSFP’s Global Career Accelerator at Congress ’25 (December 8-11, Rio de Janeiro), a programme designed to spotlight the next wave of standout factual storytellers. Each participant will receive full accreditation, a travel bursary, personalised mentorship, and curated networking to help fast-track their careers in the global science and factual content industry.
“We are excited to launch the inaugural Sloan Buzzies Award in partnership with World Congress of Science and Factual Producers and to recognise YouTube and TikTok as creative powerhouses in the media space,” said Doron Weber, VP and programme director at the Sloan Foundation. “These awards are part of Sloan’s new programme to support and honour talented creators on YouTube, TikTok, and other non-traditional digital platforms that engage with science and technology.”
Paul Lewis, conference director for WCSFP, added: “Creators on YouTube, TikTok and other digital platforms are as vital to the future of factual storytelling as their linear counterparts. Powerful science stories can thrive just as well on a smartphone screen as on a television screen.”
Open to creators worldwide, the award invites submissions from those with a proven track record of impactful science storytelling.
