CAST opens nominations for Lifetime Achievement Award, Science Communication Scholarship

WASHINGTON — The Council for Agricultural Science and Technology opened nominations for the 2026 CAST Lifetime Achievement Award, CAST’s award for career-long impact in agricultural science, science communication or science-based leadership.

CAST is also accepting applications for the 2026 CAST Science Communication Scholarship, a $1,000 award for students.

Nominations for the CLAA are open through July 31. Self-nominations are not accepted.

Nominators are asked to submit a curated curriculum vitae, or CV, or professional biography of the nominee, a written statement of the nominee’s career contributions and their significance and up to five letters of support.

Now in its second year, the CLAA recognizes individuals whose sustained, career-long contributions have advanced agricultural science, science communication or science-based policy in food, agriculture and the environment.

The award was established in 2025 and presented inaugurally to Kenneth Quinn, former U.S. ambassador to Cambodia and president emeritus of the World Food Prize Foundation, in recognition of his six decades of leadership in diplomacy, agricultural development and global food security.

“The CAST Lifetime Achievement Award exists to recognize the individuals who have dedicated their careers to ensuring that agricultural science shapes the decisions that feed the world,” said Chris Boomsma, CAST CEO. “We encourage the agricultural science community to put forward the leaders whose contributions deserve this recognition.”

The CLAA completes CAST’s awards continuum — alongside the Borlaug CAST Communication Award for mid-career professionals and the CAST Science Communication Scholarship for students — recognizing leaders at every career stage who connect agricultural science, communication and impact.

Separately, CAST is accepting applications for the 2026 CAST Science Communication Scholarship through July 31.

The $1,000 award recognizes one undergraduate or graduate CAST student member who demonstrates outstanding ability to translate complex agricultural topics into communication that is clear, accurate, creative and impactful.

Applicants submit a 500- to 700-word essay on their approach to science communication in agriculture, supporting materials such as articles, videos, podcasts, or graphics and a short biography. Applications are reviewed by representatives from CAST’s Animal, Plant and Food work groups.

Both honors will be presented at the CAST Awards Ceremony on Dec. 10 at the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C., alongside the Borlaug CAST Communication Award.

The date was chosen to coincide with the anniversary of Dr. Norman Borlaug’s acceptance of the Nobel Peace Prize in 1970.

U.S.-based CSCS recipients will receive travel sponsorship to attend in person. International recipients will participate virtually.