2023 Arthur C. Clarke Awards

The Arthur C. Clarke Foundation presented the 2023 Arthur C. Clarke Awards at their Unleash Imagination event on November 8. (Note: This is a different honor than the literary Arthur C. Clarke Award.)

INNOVATOR AWARD

NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC SOCIETY

Represented by its President and COO, Michael Ulica.

for valuing curiosity and supporting exploration that inspires humanity

The National Geographic Society is a global nonprofit organization that uses the power of science, exploration, education and storytelling to illuminate and protect the wonder of our world. Since 1888, National Geographic has pushed the boundaries of exploration, investing in bold people and transformative ideas, providing more than 15,000 grants for work across all seven continents, reaching 3 million students each year through education offerings, and engaging audiences around the globe through signature experiences, stories and content. Learn more about National Geographic Society.

LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

ROMAIN BAUSCH
Former CEO of SES Satellites who currently is Chairman of the National Council of Public Finance of Luxembourg.

for leadership and commitment to extending the benefits of satellite communications around the world

Romain Bausch is the renowned space executive who oversaw the rise of SES to the world’s largest satellite operator. Based in Luxembourg, SES successfully established a leading position in the European satellite services market in the 1990s, subsequently extending its footprint across the world by consolidating a number of industry-leading companies such as GE Americom, New Skies Satellites, Nordic Satellite AB, and others. He also steered the investment in, and acquisition of, O3B Networks and its unique capabilities to deliver true ‘Telco’ services to the most remote and disconnected populations.

Romain was Chairman of Luxembourg’s National Council of Public Finance (2019 to 2022) and will continue in this role 2023- 2026. He is also a Member of both the Board of Directors of the Luxembourg Future Fund and the Board of Directors of Bank Raiffeisen. Learn more about Romain Bausch

IMAGINATION IN SERVICE TO SOCIETY AWARD

NNEDI OKORAFOR
Award-winning New York Times Bestselling writer of science fiction and fantasy for both children and adults.

for unforgettable speculative fiction and Africanfuturism for youth and adults

Nnedi Okorafor is an international award-winning New York Times Bestselling novelist of science fiction and fantasy for children, young adults and adults. Born in the United States to Nigerian immigrant parents, Nnedi is known for drawing from African cultures to create captivating stories with unforgettable characters and evocative settings. Nnedi has received the World Fantasy, Nebula, Eisner and Lodestar Awards and multiple Hugo Awards, amongst others, for her books. Champions of her work include Neil Gaiman, Ngugi wa Thiong’o, George RR Martin, and Rick Riordan. Literary ancestors Diana Wynne Jones, Ursula K. Le Guin and Nawal El Saadawi also loved her work. Nnedi holds a PhD in Literature, two Master’s Degrees (Journalism and Literature) and lives in Phoenix, Arizona with her daughter Anyaugo. Learn more about Nnedi Okorafor

2022 Arthur C. Clarke Awards

The Arthur C. Clarke Foundation has announced the 2022 Arthur C. Clarke Award winners. (Note: This is a different honor than the literary Arthur C. Clarke Award.)

On November 16, the Clarke Foundation in Washington, D.C., will host Unleash Imagination, including these 2022 Arthur C. Clarke Awardees.

THE ARTHUR C. CLARKE LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

FRANCIS COLLINS

for his exceptional contributions as a Physican-Geneticist, and for his Human Genome Leadership

Dr. Collins is a physician-geneticist noted for his landmark discoveries of disease genes and his previous leadership of the international Human Genome Project, which culminated in April 2003 with the completion of a finished sequence of the human DNA instruction book.

THE ARTHUR C. CLARKE IMAGINATION IN SERVICE TO SOCIETY AWARD

CORY DOCTOROW

for his imaginative Science Fiction creations, and exceptional Journalism and Technology Activism.

The awardee for Imagination in Service to Society is a science fiction novelist, journalist and technology activist. Mr. Doctorow is also a special consultant to the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF), a non-profit civil liberties group that defends freedom in technology law, policy, standards and treaties. He holds an honorary doctorate in computer science from the Open University (UK), where he is a Visiting Professor. He is an MIT Media Lab Research Affiliate and a Visiting Professor of Practice at the University of North Carolina’s School of Library and Information Science.

THE ARTHUR C. CLARKE INNOVATOR AWARD

ESTHER DYSON

for her incomparable leadership and vision as an Internet Policy Pioneer and Investor, Journalist, Author, Commentator and Philanthropist.

As a member of the National Information Infrastructure Advisory Council (NIIAC), chair of the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF), and founding chairman of ICANN, Esther Dyson has helped mediate and inform public policy regarding privacy, encryption, trust, and the assignment of Internet domain names.

Ms. Dyson has been widely regarded as one of the most influential voices in technology policy for more than three decades. Though she is now mostly focused on human well-being and health (through the 10-year nonprofit community health and equity project she founded in 2014, Wellville), she is returning her gaze to Internet governance as the world approaches Web 3.0. She hopes to help it avoid the governance issues she saw clearly in Web 2.0.

2021 Clarke Awards

The Arthur C. Clarke Foundation has announced the 2021 Clarke winners. (Note: This is a different honor than the literary Arthur C. Clarke Award.)

THE ARTHUR C. CLARKE LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

  • Dr. Michio Kaku

For Exceptional Contributions as a Theoretical Physicist, Futurist, and Science Popularizer


THE ARTHUR C. CLARKE IMAGINATION AWARD

  • Samuel “Chip” R. Delany

For Outstanding Contributions to Fiction, Criticism and Essays on Science Fiction, Literature and Society


THE ARTHUR C. CLARKE INNOVATOR’S AWARD

  • NOVA

For Inspiring TV Programs that Demonstrate the Role of Science in Uncovering Nature’s Wonders

Accepting on behalf of the WGBH / NOVA Production Team are Julia Cort and Chris Schmidt, Co-Executive Producers, NOVA

The awardees will be part of the Clarke Conversation on Imagination on November 17 at the Embassy of France in Washington, D.C. More information is available here.

[Thanks to Michael J. Walsh for the story.]

2020 Unleash Imagination Awards

The Arthur C. Clarke Foundation has announced the 2020 Unleash Imagination Award winners.

2020 Imagination in Service to Society

  • Ted Chiang

The Hugo and Nebula award-winning writer of fiction that stretches our imaginations in profound and empathetic ways. Stories of Your Life and Others has been translated into 21 languages, and Exhalation was chosen by the New York Times as one of the 10 Best Books of 2019. 

2020 Innovation Award

  • CERN

Accepted by Dr. Fabiola Gianotti,the Director General of CERN, the European Council for Nuclear Research, incubator of the World Wide Web and the world’s largest particle physics laboratory. 

2020 Lifetime Achievement Awardee

  • William H. Draper III

A venture capitalist pivotal in the development of Silicon Valley who also served as a prominent federal government leader. 

The awardees will be part of the “Clarke Conversation on Imagination: Crises and Renewal” on November 12, a live online interactive event. Register here for access.