Johns Hopkins celebrates 150 years of research at awards ceremony

Johns Hopkins University celebrated this year's winners of the university's Catalyst Awards and Discovery Awards on Thursday, Oct. 23, at the George Peabody Library.

JHU's Catalyst and Discovery Awards were launched in 2015 and have since contributed funding to hundreds of groundbreaking discoveries. This year, 20 faculty members received a Catalyst Award, which support early-career faculty, while 38 interdisciplinary teams received a Discovery Award, given to cross-divisional research projects. Research topics included AI applications in health care, scalable interventions for postpartum depression, and uncovering the neural mechanisms behind mosquito attraction to blood. Thursday's ceremony also recognized faculty who received large external grants after working with JHU's Research Development Team.

During the ceremony, Vice Provost for Research Denis Wirtz noted that this year's celebration took place as the university marks its 150th anniversary.

Image caption: Mary Woolley

Image credit: Will Kirk / Johns Hopkins University

"It's the perfect time to reflect on just how far we've come," Wirtz said. "For 150 years, our community has met uncertainty with creativity and purpose. You remind us that research isn't only about what we uncover. It's about how we persevere together. That shared commitment will guide us into the next century, and, again, thank you for your hard work, your creativity, and what you do for Johns Hopkins."

The evening also featured keynote remarks from Research!America President Mary Woolley, who stressed that, despite widespread federal funding cuts, 85% of surveyed Americans still support federally funded research.

"Meeting all of you awardees gives me a major reason for optimism at a time of challenge," Woolley said. "We can't lose track of the fact that we are serving the public's interest every hour of every day. ... Know that the public wants you to succeed, and they will be heard."

Woolley also encouraged attendees to make connections with more non-scientists, whether they be sympathizers or skeptics. If more Americans have firsthand conversations with scientists, she said, then attacks on research will seem less abstract to the general public.

"It's hard to be outraged about something you can't put a face on," she said. "There's a lot of nonsense, myths, and disinformation out there. ... Perhaps you can say, 'Sounds like you're skeptical. That makes two of us. I was trained to be skeptical and ask a lot of questions.' Don't shame or blame people who ask questions about science. They're thinking like a scientist."

Full lists of this year's Catalyst and Discovery Award recipients can be found on the Office of the Vice Provost for Research website.