Simar Bajaj

Simar Bajaj is a 22-year-old freelancer who does a remarkable job centering the human story in his work. He delivers solid science with elan and wide-ranging references to history, making complex medical topics accessible. His award entry includes features on the tortuousness of “phone addiction,” the ways obesity drugs are transforming mental health, and an insider’s look into the world of trauma surgery and advocacy. It is a diverse portfolio that demonstrates Simar’s ability to find science in lifestyle stories, closely scrutinize academic research, and immerse readers with his prose.

Indeed, Simar’s trauma surgery profile offers a masterclass in storytelling, weaving the deeply personal journey of Dr. Joseph Sakran with a broader commentary on gun violence and healthcare in America. This piece demanded extraordinary commitment, from Simar plunging himself into Sakran’s trauma service to spending a full year reporting. Simar, in turn, brings readers inside the chaos and despair, while offering a first-rate analysis of what bullets do to bodies. The piece is both lyrical and unflinching, bearing witness to the horrors that trauma surgeons in the United States confront daily.

Weight loss drugs have been covered incessantly over the past year, but most pieces are often unidimensional or slow to connect the dots. Simar’s news feature for New Scientist is thus remarkable for covering a topic both cutting-edge and underexplored, piecing together research on how these drugs helped treat depression, addiction, bulimia, and Alzheimer’s. In turn, Simar constructs a timely and novel argument about the promise of these drugs in addressing the mental health crisis. The article, nevertheless, does not shy away from exploring the ethical and social issues, such as weight stigma and the risk of misuse, thereby enriching the narrative with a critical lens.

Simar’s feature on “phone addiction” tackles another universal, pressing issue. By examining the broader societal and psychological factors driving this condition, it challenges prevailing assumptions and offers thought-provoking analysis. The piece is deeply reported with interviews of neuroscientists, sociologists, historians, mental health professionals, and patients, synthesized all into an engaging narrative. The goal was not to prescribe simple solutions but foster readers’ critical thinking — a hallmark of impactful journalism.

For a new journalist, Simar demonstrates a mature, distinctive voice — one that commands attention. His work has already earned international acclaim and some of the highest awards in science journalism, including the gold Kavli Award from the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the $40,000 Excellence in Science Communications award from the National Academies, and Science Story of the Year from the Foreign Press Association. Simar’s ability to tackle such weighty topics with sensitivity and precision showcase his talent and sets him apart at his age. To do all this as a freelancer — without the resources and backing of a large newsroom — makes it all the more impressive.