Washington Post Editor Joins Society for Science & the Public Board of Trustees

WASHINGTON, DC (April 3, 2019) The Society for Science & the Public is excited to announce that Washington Post Health, Science and Environment Editor Laura Helmuth has joined the Society’s Board of Trustees.

“It’s a great privilege to have Laura join our Board of Trustees. Laura is a leader in science journalism, and understands today’s constantly evolving media environment. The addition of her experience and expertise will help expand the Society’s reach in the coming years,” said Maya Ajmera, President and CEO of the Society for Science & the Public and Publisher of Science News.

Helmuth manages a team of a dozen reporters and three editors at The Washington Post who cover all fields of research, science funding, health policy and related subjects. She is a member of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine’s standing committee on advancing science communication research and practice. Helmuth has a Ph.D. in cognitive neuroscience from the University of California at Berkeley and attended the U.C. Santa Cruz science writing program.

“I am honored and thrilled to join the Society for Science & the Public Board of Trustees, especially as the organization approaches its centennial,” said Helmuth. “Science News has been a model and an inspiration for anyone who values accurate, timely, clear, creative and engaging science communication. The publication has trained generations of science journalists (myself among them) and it continues to drive the international conversation about science and set the standards for science writing. Through Science News, Science News for Students, science competitions and more, the Society is helping educate and inspire all of society.”

Previously, Helmuth was an editor for National Geographic, Slate, Smithsonian and Science magazines. Additionally, she was a freelance writer or editor for the New York Times, Nautilus, National Wildlife, Stanford Medicine and other publications. Helmuth was also president of the National Association of Science Writers from 2016 to 2018 and serves on the advisory boards of High Country News, Spectrum, the Geological Society of Washington, and the American Association for the Advancement of Science’s SciLine service. She got her start in science writing as an intern for Science News.

About Society for Science & the Public

Society for Science & the Public is dedicated to the achievement of young scientists in independent research and to public engagement in science. Established in 1921, the Society is a nonprofit whose vision is to promote the understanding and appreciation of science and the vital role it plays in human advancement. Through its world-class competitions, including the Regeneron Science Talent Search, the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair, the Broadcom MASTERS and its award-winning magazine, Science News and Science News for Students, Society for Science & the Public is committed to inform, educate and inspire. Learn more at www.societyforscience.org and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Snapchat (Society4Science).