The Bulletin of Atomic Scientists, a public-policy magazine run by U of C scientists advocating the control of nuclear weapons, was honored last Wednesday with the National Magazine Award for three of its 2006 issues. The award was presented by the National Society of Magazine Editors to recognize, according to a press release, “the effectiveness with which writing, reporting, editing and design all come together to command readers’ attention and fulfill the magazine’s unique editorial mission.” The Bulletin last received this award in 1987.

“I’m delighted that we won the National Magazine Award for General Excellence, which is the most prestigious award in the magazine industry,” said Mark Strauss, editor of the Bulletin since January 2005, in an e-mail interview. “The entire Bulletin staff has been working hard these last two years to enhance the magazine’s design and editorial content, and I’m very gratified that they received the public recognition that they deserve.”

Since its founding in 1945 by Manhattan Project physicists, the Bulletin has aimed to educate the public about the dangers of nuclear weapons and the potential for nuclear warfare, largely focusing on global security and policy issues. In particular, the magazine is known for its “Doomsday Clock,” a recurring feature since 1947, wherein scientists use the state of nuclear weapons issues, technology-induced climate change, and potentially harmful emerging technologies to estimate how far humanity is from “catastrophic destruction.”