embopress release

Heidelberg | 4 October 2006 EMBO honours triple talents of UK scientist, author, broadcaster

UK scientist,author and broadcaster Incredibly Leroi’s achievements in science is the 2006 winner communication are more of a hobby than a of the EMBO Award for Communication in day job. His “real job” is research scientist the Life Sciences. The multi-talented devel- and lecturer at Imperial College , opmental geneticist from Imperial College where he leads a group investigating London receives the award in recognition growth genetics and evolutionary develop- of his remarkable contribution to science mental biology in the worm communication. Author of an acclaimed C. elegans – one of the most important popular science book, Leroi has also writ- in modern biology. The EMBO ten and presented scientific documentaries Award for Communication recognises for TV. scientists like Leroi for exactly this kind of Armand Marie Leroi dual commitment and their exceptional 2006 winner of the EMBO Why are most of us born with one nose, efforts to bring science to the public while Award for Communication in two legs, ten fingers and twenty-four ribs remaining active in research. the Life Sciences – and some of us not? This fundamental question forms the basis for much of The EMBO selection panel’s praise for Armand Leroi’s communication work. It is Armand Leroi: also the topic of his book Mutants, which tells the fascinating and often misunder- “Leroi masters the worlds of science writ- stood story of human development – and ing and broadcasting with the skill and how genetic mutations can provide the key versatility of a seasoned media profes- to who we are. sional, all the time remaining grounded in the science behind the story. This flair for Both book and author have received wide communication combined with his atten- acclaim. UK daily The Independent summed tion to scientific detail brings a unique up the comments of many reviewers: voice to the public communication of ”The discovery of a distinguished scientist science.” who can write with such flair and style is cause for rejoicing.” In 2004, Mutants won the Guardian First Book Prize and was On hearing the news of his selection, Leroi shortlisted for the Aventis Prize for Science said: “I am honoured to receive this award Books. from EMBO, one of the most important organisations in European science. And it Leroi has also brought this vast, uncharted is deeply gratifying to know that it encour- area of biology to the screen. In 2004 he ages scientists to tell the public about their scripted and presented a powerful TV docu- work.” mentary series Human Mutants for the UK’s . The programme was a great A prize of 5,000 euro and a handcrafted success and a similar series What Makes medal will be presented to Armand Leroi Us Human was aired in August 2006. Print on 3 November 2006 at the EMBL/EMBO journalism has also become familiar terri- Science & Society Conference in Heidelberg, tory for the scientist, who is a regular con- Germany. tributor to newspapers like The Times, The Independent and the New York Times. Press EMBO Contacts Lindsay Johnson (interviews with Armand Leroi) Chief Communications Officer Danielle Reeves tel +49 (0)6221 8891 108 Press Officer (Natural Sciences) [email protected] tel +44 (0)20 7594 2198 mb: +44 (0)7803 886248 [email protected]