Celebrating humanism has never been more essential. In today’s world, humanism offers a rational voice amidst manipulative narratives, a compassionate presence in times of tension and anger, and a unifying force when division seems inevitable.
With so many challenges threatening to overwhelm us, those who remind us of the essence of humanism and embody its values play a vital role. That’s why, each year, the American Humanist Association honors individuals who have made significant contributions to advancing humanism in science, the arts, politics, and modern culture.
We are excited to introduce this year’s award winners—individuals who have redefined what it means to lead with compassion, curiosity, and courage.
Ted Chiang
Ted Chiang, the recipient of the Inquiry and Innovation Award (formerly the Isaac Asimov Award), is a renowned science fiction writer. His fiction has won four Hugo, four Nebula, and six Locus Awards, and has been reprinted in Best American Short Stories. His first collection, Stories of Your Life and Others, has been translated into twenty-one languages, and the title story was the basis for the Oscar-nominated film Arrival. His second collection, Exhalation, was chosen by The New York Times as one of the 10 Best Books of 2019. Ted’s work exploring the complex relationships between science, technology, religion and philosophy has made significant contributions to the public understanding of science and technology and has inspired interest and curiosity in many.
Karen Hao
Karen Hao, the recipient of the Humanist Media Award, is an award-winning journalist revolutionizing how we understand artificial intelligence. As the first journalist to profile OpenAI and a contributing writer for The Atlantic, she’s making headlines with her groundbreaking work. Karen is also leading The AI Spotlight Series, a program she designed with the Pulitzer Center to train 1,000 journalists on how to cover AI, and has been honored with an American National Magazine Award. Her articles on the forced dismissal of Google’s ethical AI co-lead; Facebook’s addiction to and funding of misinformation; and OpenAI’s heavy toll on workers in Kenya were cited by Congress. Her deep dives into AI’s social impacts and her insightful commentary are taught in universities around the world and are reshaping conversations about technology and its role in our lives.
Reps. Jamie Raskin and Jared Huffman
This year, the AHA is awarding the Religious Liberty Award jointly to Reps. Jared Huffman and Jamie Raskin for their tireless work in protecting the separation of church and state and our democracy. Founding members of the Congressional Freethought Caucus, Rep. Huffman and Rep. Raskin are paving the way for the promotion of public policy formed on the basis of reason, science, and moral values, and protecting the secular character of our government. This year Reps. Huffman and Raskin founded the Stop Project 2025 Task Force, designed to unite leaders of the United States to counter Project 2025 and defend democracy. In addition to their countless achievements, Rep. Raskin and Rep. Huffman have introduced the National Day of Reason resolution in Congress, ensuring that our leaders in government recognize the importance of evidence-based decision making.
The AHA is proud to present these distinguished individuals with awards at our Annual Conference, taking place virtually September 14th-15th. Attendees will have the opportunity to hear directly from our Awardees who will bring their unique insights, experiences, and expertise to the conference. Their presence underscores the values and accomplishments we as humanists celebrate, turning what can seem like abstract principles into tangible, real-world impacts.
Don’t miss your chance to hear our Awardees graciously share their journeys, work, and insights with our humanist community. To view the full schedule and attend the American Humanist Association’s 83rd Annual Conference online, please visit the conference website.
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