A couple people who couldn’t stay for the awards dinner have asked for the answers to the science news quiz. Here they are! With five correct answers, Jude Isabella from YES Mag won the one-year Canadian Geographic subscription. Congrats!

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The first annual award ceremony for excellence in Canadian science journalism ended the weekend-long conference.

The Science Journalism Research Group at the UBC Graduate School of Journalism awarded a $3000 prize for each piece of journalism in three categories: print, broadcast and Internet.

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Sitting all day in conference presentations and talks was rewarded with a delicious four-course dinner. Wine was flowing, talks were escalating only indicating that schmoozing wasn’t finished.

Sid Katz, a UBC science educator and journalist was the master of ceremonies for the night. He filled in the dinner crowd with his busy schedule and psyched everyone up for the first annual science journalism awards.

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Sparks were flying as these three put their heads together to discuss the ultimate question: Is the internet dumbing down science?

People like the web. It’s a new medium that is instantaneous, offers interactivity and ability to access content on different levels of detail and the user can check facts.

The new tools allow the “omygawd” factor, according to Richard Black from BBCNews.com, to become a way to share news.

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Both journalists and scientists complain about the disconnect that exists between the two fields. “Where’s the story?” the journalist asks. “You’re misrepresenting the data,” the scientist will say. The one group just can’t seem to communicate in a way that satisfies the other.

But in the second session of the conference, Jaymie Matthews of UBC’s Department of Astronomy and Physics talked about some research at what was supposed to be a “mock” press conference. After he finished, Richard Black of BBC News said his presentation was “as good as it gets” as far as science press conferences go.

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