2021 AJN Awards

Science Awareness Award

Communicating complex science topics in innovative, engaging ways

DR. VIN GUPTA, INSTITUTE FOR HEALTH METRICS AND EVALUATION AT THE UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON

A Critical Care Pulmonologist and Affiliate Faculty, Dr. Gupta has been the Institute’s chief spokesperson during the pandemic. He became an authoritative and tireless presence on the evening news and has given more than 200 COVID-19 briefings.

Dr. Vin Gupta

Science Discovery Award

Creating major disruptive scientific contributions 

BRIE LINDSEY
BRIE LINDSEY

PATTERN COMPUTER INC. & MR. MARK ANDERSON, CEO 

Pattern Computer, with its novel Pattern Discovery Engine, has made marked progress on major cancer detection diagnostics, among other contributions. The challenges being addressed by the Pattern team are in fields as diverse as drug discovery, biomedical research, materials science, aerospace manufacturing, veterinary medicine, air traffic operations, and finance. 

Science and Society Award

Recognizing individuals making impacts in social media, film, books

DR. MARIAN CROAK, GOOGLE INC. 

Dr. Croak, Vice President of Engineering at Google, invented the Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) technology used to make phone calls in Skype, Google Phone, FaceTime, and more. 
RICHARD SERGAY

MR. ERIC S. YUAN & ZOOM VIDEO COMMUNICATIONS 

Mr. Yuan, CEO for the Zoom platform for video communications, oversaw the plan to help millions of schoolchildren learn remotely, providing free product to more than 125,000 K-12 schools in 25 countries. 
SHARON ANDERSON MORRIS
SHARON ANDERSON MORRIS

Science Impact Award

Creating major impacts on people’s lives

SARA MILLER MCCUNE

DR. KATALIN KARIKO, BIONTECH 

Dr. Karikó and Dr. Weissman played a key role in enabling the biggest vaccination campaign in history. Both the Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna vaccines being administered to protect against COVID-19 license the fundamental mRNA patents for which the duo is responsible.
AYAH BDEIR

DR. DREW WEISSMAN, UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA 

Dr. Karikó and Dr. Weissman played a key role in enabling the biggest vaccination campaign in history. Both the Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna vaccines being administered to protect against COVID-19 license the fundamental mRNA patents for which the duo is responsible.

Science Inspiration Award

Recognizing unsung heroes who stimulate & inspire

DR. AMANDA RANDLES & DR. MAUTH BISHAWI, DUKE UNIVERSITY

The Duke University colleagues made fundamental contributions to engineering the first split ventilator prototype. With ventilators in high demand during the COVID-19 pandemic, Dr. Randles and Dr. Bishawi created a ventilator splitter and resistor system (VSRS) which enables one ventilator to support two or more patients.
SARA MILLER MCCUNE
SARA MILLER MCCUNE

This year, for the first time, the AJN Awards Board is also issuing two Certificates of Commendation, for extraordinary efforts and impact on issues around the COVID-19 pandemic. The certificates are:

Science Stewardship Certificate of Commendation

BILL & MELINDA GATES FOUNDATION

For their prescient role in backing mRNA research for treatment and prevention of infectious diseases, their early endorsement of pandemic responder training symposia for governments, and their strong support for the development and equitable distribution of COVID-19 vaccines over the past twelve months.

Science Communication Certificate of Commendation

DR. ANTHONY FAUCI, NIAID

As head of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), Dr. Fauci has provided forthright discussions and invaluable perspective for Americans throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.