News & Events

The Vaccine Education Center at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (VEC), in collaboration with our partners, the Public Health Association of British Columbia, Kids Boost Immunity, Society for Intelligence Management (SIM) and the National Association of Biology Teachers (NABT), are pleased to announce the winners of the 2025 Maurice R. Hilleman Essay Contest. Seven winners were celebrated during a virtual event hosted by Dr. Paul Offit, VEC Director and biographer of Dr. Hilleman. 

The students composed their essays in response to the writing prompt, “Not everyone will be a prolific scientist like Dr. Hilleman, but all citizens need to understand how science works. Use an example to discuss why this understanding is important given the role of science and technology in society today.” To answer this question, some students looked to the past to see how control of the scientific narrative shaped our understanding of nuclear weapons. Others tapped into personal experience to discuss scientific literacy during the COVID-19 pandemic. Some focused on the present, considering topics like how stigma around women’s health shapes public health, how scientific literacy impacts daily life, or how the rise of misinformation has changed discussions about scientific topics. Finally, students looked to the future, as some considered the growing role of AI and robotics in medicine, climate change, and the importance of public engagement for positive health outcomes. 

The winners from Canada are:
 

 
The winners from the Unites States are:
 

In their consideration of why scientific understanding is important, this year’s winners addressed a variety of issues: 

• Nicolas Concepción wrote his essay about the many ways science informs our day-to-day lives and decision making. He discussed how “being science literate informs our decisions about everything from reading food nutrition labels to knowing which medications to take,” describing that in the modern world understanding technology and being able to think critically are important to the success of individuals and their communities. Nicolas reminded us that “there is science everywhere, and understanding how it works can empower everyone.”
   
• Alishba Faisal described the importance of using the knowledge we have to combat the problems we can reach, reminding us that “simple fixes to life-threatening diseases highlight the importance of science literacy, not only for individuals, but for society as a whole.” She pointed to the successes of COVID-19 vaccines and the scientists who stood ready to tackle the problem, adding that “in an era where misinformation can spread rapidly, promoting critical thinking and education in science is more important than ever.” 
   
• Alexander Hsu cautioned that “just because information is released online does not make everything one reads true.” He recognized that identifying credibility and reliability is difficult. and that the amount of information available “makes it challenging to discern fact from fiction.” Alexander concluded  that “scientific literacy is not merely an academic pursuit; it is a crucial skill for navigating the complexities of modern life.”
   
• Saara Karim examined her own experiences with information, misinformation, and uncertainty during the COVID-19 pandemic. She grappled with the confusion prevalent during that the noting, “all these could be conspiracies, or maybe they had some truth in it, but it scared people more because no one gave uniform and consistent answers.” Saara recognized that just telling people to do something often is not enough and exposure to ideas is necessary, pointing out that “in most places kindergartners practice hand wash[ing] protocols, however, they are not being taught why it is important.” Saara also described how the public can do better next time.
   
• Erica Liu asked if an AI surgeon could, or should, be trusted to do a job traditionally reserved for a skilled human being. On one hand, she noted that “though AI-enabled technology has yet to replace the surgeon, it holds the potential to become an immensely valuable tool in surgery.” On the other hand, she added, “Risks … in the ethical and legal realm of AI integration into medicine are large barriers when it comes to widespread adoption.” Erica’s exploration of this topic demonstrated how  scientific understanding of an issue is important to make one’s own informed decisions.
   
• Aneet Sandhu recognized that it is all too easy for those in power to become “more concerned with their next political move than with the well-researched advice of scientists.” To illustrate the impacts of this, Aneet examined the history of nuclear proliferation and public opinion on the matter of nuclear weapons. She described that scientific literacy and public involvement are critical “because in the end, it is politics—not science—that determines what reaches the public sphere.”
   
• Amrutha Venugopal set out to remind us that “understanding biology and menstruation helps dismantle harmful myths that have oppressed women for centuries.” She noted how social media has allowed previously local myths and little-known misinformation about women’s health to spread further. To combat this, Amrutha suggested that it is up to citizens to drive improvements, writing that “the societal impact of science is huge, but it also can go the other way around, societal progress strongly influences scientific advancements.”

The celebratory event, held virtually on May 2, 2025, marked the seventh year of the contest and included a keynote address from Dr. Arthur Caplan, Founding Head of the Division of Medical Ethics at NYU Grossman School of Medicine’s Department of Population Health. Other speakers included: Dr. Kirstin J. Milks, President of the National Association of Biology Teachers (NABT), Lucie Bucci, Director of the Society for Intelligence Management (SIM), and Lorraine Hilleman, Dr. Hilleman’s wife. After presenting their winning essays during the event, the students attended an informal virtual gathering with the event speakers and organizers after the celebration. 

Teachers named in each student’s winning entry received a signed copy of a book written by Paul A. Offit, MD, and a 1-year, complimentary membership to the National Association of Biology Teachers, graciously provided by NABT.

Learn more about Dr. Hilleman’s life and work.

Read the 2025 winning essays here.