On October 24th, during the week of the Manchester Science Festival, the first Joshua Phillips Award for Innovation in Science Engagement (or simply The Josh Award) was launched by the Museum of Science and Industry in memory of Josh. Josh was the Museum’s Science Communicator. During the launch, he was described as “renowned for his innovative and fun approach to getting people of all ages interested in science.”

The first winner of the award was Dr. Chris Smith of the award winning popular science radio show, The Naked Scientists. (This programme which started out on local radio in Cambridgeshire is now globally famous. It can be checked out at “http://www.thenakedscientists.com”)

The trophy, shown in the gallery attached to this report, is a beautiful piece commissioned from craft-maker and silversmith Miranda Meilleur, and it was awarded to the winner by the famous veteran science popularizer, Johnny Ball. The ceremony was attended by several members of Josh’s family, and the open mic was represented by Sandra Cleary Hunt and Tom Cleary.

Tom