AAAS announces 2026 award winners

As a medical student, Omenn discovered a rare and fatal immunodeficiency disorder now called Omenn syndrome.Throughout his career, he has led groundbreaking studies in genetics, molecular biology, and cancer prevention, including as a cofounder of the Human Proteome Project.Omenn served as a White House Fellow at the US Atomic Energy Commission, was associate director of the White House Office of Science & Technology Policy, and chaired the Presidential/Congressional Omenn Commission, which provided the foundation for more rational, transparent, and science-based approaches to regulatory decision-making in environmental health. AAAS Mani L. Bhaumik Award for Public Engagement with ScienceLesley-Ann L. Dupigny-Giroux, Vermont state climatologist and professor of climatology at the University of Vermont, is the recipient of the AAAS Mani L. Bhaumik Award for Public Engagement with Science.The award recognizes scientists and engineers who demonstrate excellence in their contribution to public engagement with science.Since 2019, it has been endowed by quantum physicist Mani L. Bhaumik, whose support of the award has placed renewed emphasis on recognizing meaningful dialogue and exchange between the recipient and various publics.Dupigny-Giroux is known for her inventive teaching for students of all ages and across communities, showing how climatologists, meteorologists,