We are thrilled to announce that Jennifer Redfearn, an Oscar-nominated filmmaker and associate professor at Berkeley Journalism, has been selected as the recipient of the prestigious Philomathia Prize for 2023. This annual award recognizes early-career Berkeley faculty members who have demonstrated exceptional promise and distinction in their field.

Jennifer Redfearn, known for her impactful documentaries on environmental and social justice issues, expressed her gratitude for this honour, stating, “I feel incredibly honored and humbled. This is an enormous motivation for me to continue this work and strive to make meaningful contributions to my field with our graduate students.”

The selection committee was impressed by Professor Redfearn’s previous filmmaking accomplishments and her dedication to mentoring students in their film projects. Her proposed project, which focuses on addressing the critical issue of climate change, received special recognition.

Under Jennifer’s leadership, this visionary project will be part of a multidisciplinary program on climate change, led by Professor Jason Spingarn-Koff, the Knight Chair in Climate Journalism. The project will explore new forms of documentary storytelling and community engagement to raise awareness of climate change issues.

A significant portion of the prize funds will support the creation of five short documentaries covering topics such as water scarcity, food security, conservation, and the impact of climate change on mental and physical health, all within the context of environmental justice.

Congratulations to Jennifer Redfearn on this well-deserved recognition, and we look forward to the significant contributions she and her students will make in addressing the critical issue of climate change. To read the full press release, visit https://light.berkeley.edu/o/acclaimed-filmmaker-to-receive-2023-philomathia-prize/

About The Philomathia Prize

The Philomathia Prize competition is open to tenure-track assistant professors and recently tenured associate professors, with a committee of tenured Berkeley faculty selecting the recipient. The honouree is expected to embody the Philomathia Foundation’s vision, which seeks innovative means to promote the betterment of humankind through a commitment to education and research. For more information about the Philomathia Prize and the nomination process, please visit vpf.berkeley.edu/faculty-fellowships/philomathia-prize.