From the Nominator

"The Big Brains podcast champions academic research amidst an alarming trend of misinformation and the growing distrust of traditional information sources in today’s media environment. As academics and scientists remain some of the few sources of information the public still trusts (2021 Edelman Trust Barometer), communicating the impact of rigorously studied academic research is now an essential task.   

The prior success of the University of Chicago's Big Brains podcast proved that an audience for nuanced and complex discussions of research not only exists, but continues to grow. While the media landscape is shifting, an individual’s need to understand remains.    

In 2021, the charge for Big Brains was clear: Find ways to get the podcast to a larger audience. The Office of Communication aimed to reach more people outside of the University of Chicago community—and outside of the higher ed community—to deliver the meaningful stories behind research that affects everyone."

From the Judges

Extremely well done and great sense of target audience with clearly defined goals and outcomes. The consideration of accessibility for viewers was a highlight for the judging panel.