Quantum weirdness, parallel worlds, dinosaur poop, and the ultimate fate of the universe...

DRAWERS FULL OF THE STUFF Jacob Berkowitz first caught wind of his subject matter while working as a science educator at the Canadian Museum of Natural History several years ago. His job allowed him to examine pieces of the dinosaur collection that were not available to the public, and that was where he first discovered the ancient poop.

"They had drawers full of the stuff," he says, recalling what inspired him to tackle Jurassic Poop. He recalls being blown away that "something soft and ooey and gooey" could survive for millions of years. In addition to the book, Berkowitz has evolved a storytelling performance on the same subject. "Kids love the poopiness of it," he adds.

Berkowitz is an author, playwright and journalist who lives in Almonte, Ontario. His writing combines a passion for science and storytelling. His award was announced on January 23, 2008 at the American Association of Physics Teachers' winter meeting in Baltimore, MD.

PARALLEL UNIVERSES Jim Handman, Bob McDonald, and Pat Senson are part of the team of journalists and other radio professionals who produce "Quirks & Quarks," which executive producer Handman describes as "the science show that defies gravity." Broadcast by CBC Radio in Canada and available around the world as a podcast, the show is a combination of breaking science news and in-depth documentaries.

The winning segment, "Multiple Worlds, Parallel Universes," was Senson's brain-child. "One of the things that I find interesting about physics is that there is more out there than we can experience with our eyes and ears," Senson says. "I thought it was time to explore the idea."

Begun in 1975, "Quirks & Quarks" is the oldest radio science show in the world. In 2003, the same team of Handman, McDonald, and Senson won the AIP Science Writing Award in the Broadcast category for their broadcast "It’s About Time." They will be presented with their 2007 award at a ceremony during the 2008 summer meeting of the American Association of Physics Teachers in Edmonton, Alberta.

About the Awards For more information about the 2008 Science Writing Awards, please contact: Jason Bardi, , 301.209.3091 or visit the AIP website: http://www.aip.org/aip/writing/.

About the AIP The American Institute of Physics (AIP) is a not-for-profit organization chartered in 1931 for the purpose of promoting the advancement and diffusion of the knowledge of physics and its application to human welfare. It is the mission of the Institute to serve physics, astronomy, and related fields of science and technology by serving its ten Member Societies and their associates, individual scientists, educators, R&D leaders, and the general public with programs, services and publications.