Communications Awards: Extending the Reach of Research Results

In addition to bringing recognition to outstanding scientists and research teams, AGM07 called attention to the talents of communications professionals who have excelled in conveying science-based knowledge to the public.

In a joint award, the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS) and the CGIAR recognized senior journalist Jianke Jiang of the People’s Daily with the Award for Excellence in Journalism in China. Jianke has published more than 1,000 articles on agricultural research, contributing importantly to the transfer of new technologies. He has also written four books on the role of the media in agricultural development. In addition to his work as a journalist, Jianke is Honorary Professor of Communications at CAAS and the Chinese Agricultural University.

from left: Jianke Jian, Kathy Sierra, and Jim Godfrey

Two new honors – the COM+ Communications Awards – were established this year by the Alliance of Communicators for Sustainable Development (COM+). This is a partnership of international organizations, media agencies and communications professionals committed to advancing sustainable development through communications. The CGIAR is among its founding partners and inaugurated the awards this year. Other members are the BBC World Service Trust, TVE-Earth Report, United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), World Bank and World Business Council for Sustainable Development.

One of the two awards recognizes a campaign that communicates science for people and the planet, while the other is for an outstanding climate change campaign.

The first award, conferred during AGM07 along with the CGIAR Science Awards, went to the creators of a communications campaign called the Environmental Soap Opera for Rural Vietnam. It was carried out by the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), in collaboration with Visayas State University in the Philippines and with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and Voice of Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam. Kong Luen Hong of IRRI received the award on behalf of campaign partners.

from left: Kathy Sierra, Kong Luen Hong, and Emile Frison

By means of a radio soap opera, the campaign reached approximately 10 million rural households in Vietnam, providing them with reliable information and motivating them to reduce environmental degradation through reduced and more efficient use of fertilizer, pesticides and water. One result was a 31 percent decrease in insecticide sprays.

The second award, conferred at the 13 th UN Climate Change Conference in Bali, Indonesia, immediately after AGM07, recognized an innovative initiative of the Beijing-based Shanshui Center for Nature and Society, which it carried out in partnership with Conservation International (CI-Shanshui).

Entitled “For Our Natural Splendor, Gateway to Music,” the campaign turned a popular summer music series held at the Forbidden City Concert Hall in Beijing into an opportunity for raising public awareness about climate change. The 60 concerts making up the series were “carbon neutral,” a first in China. The 126 tons of carbon dioxide emitted through use of electricity and local and international travel to the concerts was offset by planting 1,132 camphor trees in southwest China. This campaign forms part of CI-Shanshui’s comprehensive Green Olympics Campaign, which aims to spread the spirit of a green Olympics to the general public.