Abdulmalik Adetola Lawal was selected by the University of Nevada, Reno for the Florence Rittenhouse and Edith R. Hedges Scholarship. The scholarship alternates between students in the journalism program and the nutrition program, reflecting the University’s commitment to strong public communication, scientific literacy and community well-being.
Being chosen for the award affirms the direction of Lawal’s work and the role of communication in improving public health. His research focuses on how people access, interpret and act on health information, particularly in communities that face structural and social barriers to reliable guidance. He studies how message design, cultural context and communication environments influence understanding and decision-making. His goal is to develop research that supports more effective health messages, reduces misinformation and improves the pathways people use to seek help during moments of uncertainty.
Alongside his academic research, Lawal works as a science writer for the Hitchcock Project for Visualizing Science. He writes research reviews that translate complex scientific studies into clear and accessible stories for the public. These reviews help readers understand new evidence, evaluate scientific claims and connect research findings to real-world issues.
