Schweickart Prize Announced by B612 Foundation
On International Asteroid Day June 30, the B612 Foundation announced the Schweickart Prize, named in honor of renowned Apollo 9 astronaut Rusty Schweickart, which will recognize individuals who have made exceptional contributions to planetary defense and advancing life's evolutionary journey. The prize acknowledges the significance of embracing our collective responsibility for safeguarding humanity's transition into the broader cosmos.
"This prize in Rusty's honor is a fitting tribute to his lifetime of leadership."
Dr. Franklin Chang-Díaz, As Astra Rocket Company
"Through the Association of Space Explorers (ASE), we worked on the issue of planetary defense from asteroid impacts. Rusty Schweickart took a leadership role with the ASE to enable others to bring this global issue to the United Nations. This topic is now debated on a global stage as a result of Rusty's commitment. This prize in Rusty's honor is a fitting tribute to his lifetime of leadership," said Dr. Franklin Chang-Díaz, NASA astronaut, CEO of Ad Astra Rocket Co, and NASA's first Hispanic astronaut.
The Schweickart Prize emphasizes the need to address existential risks like asteroid impacts. "As citizens of Earth, we have to do everything in our power to preserve it and save it from all sources of danger. The Schweickart Prize encapsulates this concept and will be a beacon of achievement for all those working to prevent asteroid impacts here on Earth," said Anousheh Ansari, CEO of XPRIZE, private space explorer and first Iranian astronaut.
Schweikart Prize will be Awarded Annually
The prize will be awarded annually to exceptional individuals, specifically undergraduate and graduate students and early career professionals actively involved in planetary defense. Their work will demonstrate notable progress in threat discovery, mitigation strategies, civil protection, public education, or responsible geopolitical decisions. "The Schweickart Prize will recognize a new generation of students who will contribute to future advancements in space exploration for the benefit of all life on Earth, particularly in the face of existential challenges like asteroid impacts," said Nicole Stott, NASA astronaut, artist, co-founder of Space For Art Foundation, and first watercolor painter in space.
The future awardees will have achieved accomplishments, including facilitating international cooperation, addressing legal issues, stimulating student engagement, validating NEO deflection techniques, establishing public credibility, developing visual tools, or exploring innovative approaches to minimize NEO impacts. "The California Academy of Sciences stepped up as one of the inaugural supporters of Asteroid Day because we want our audiences to take an interest in understanding the risks and opportunities of asteroids. We are proud to support the Schweickart Prize, which we hope will increase interest in this topic and enable us to develop more visualization tools and techniques to enhance public understanding of planetary defense," said Ryan Wyatt, Senior Director of Morrison Planetarium and Science Visualization, California Academy of Sciences.
Beginning in 2024, Schweickart Prize awardees will receive a cash prize of $10,000 and gain global exposure through a press campaign to acknowledge their achievements. The awardees will also receive a prestigious unique award with a museum-quality meteorite, symbolizing the existential nature of the prize's purpose.
"The Schweickart Prize Award Committee comprises representatives from renowned universities and organizations worldwide, specializing in astronomy, planetary science, aerospace, and space policy programs," said Danica Remy, President of B612 Foundation and co-founder of Asteroid Day.
The open call for Schweickart Prize nominations will be posted this October.
(Source: B612 Foundation news release. Images provided and from file)