March 24, 2026

OPB science reporter and “All Science. No Fiction.” producer Jes Burns has been honored with a 2026 Gracie Award® from the Alliance for Women in Media Foundation (AWMF). She won the Local Producer – Edited award, which recognizes outstanding producers who create visually compelling and credible stories.

Burns joined OPB in 2014 as an environmental reporter, and in 2022 she became OPB’s first-ever designated science reporter. As the creator, host and producer of OPB’s “All Science. No Fiction.,” she brings curiosity and whimsy to highlight the innovations of Pacific Northwest scientists. From plastic alternatives to wave energy, the Cascadia earthquake to sustainable electronics, and cancer research to efforts to 3D print organs for transplant, her reporting covers a wide range of topics impacting people’s lives.

“Jes is an engaging and accomplished reporter who brings a deep scientific background and passion for storytelling to share complex stories from around Oregon and Southwest Washington in ways that resonate with audiences,” said Jason Potts, OPB senior vice president and chief content officer. “Jes makes complicated topics vibrant and easy to understand, helping people see how they shape daily life.”

Her years covering the environment in Oregon give Burns a unique ability to track stories over time, including the PacWave energy project on the Oregon Coast, which she has followed since 2018. Burns received the 2026 Gracie Award for her work on the “All Science. No Fiction.” episode about wave energy featuring synchronized swimmers and the episode “Cooking Cancer With Nanotechnology”. For the episode, she took a deep dive into biomedical research around women’s health, for which she assembled an all-female production crew to help bring the science – and a giant uterus – to life.

“This award confirms what everyone who works with her knows: Jes is hands down one of the smartest, funniest and most skilled science reporters in the country,” said Aaron Scott, OPB executive editor of science and environment and executive producer of “All Science. No Fiction.” “From stop-motion animation with Legos to roping OPB staff members into singing a sea shanty about volcanoes to recruiting a marching band to demonstrate the process of liquefaction in her upcoming story, the creativity with which she communicates complicated topics is boundless — as is her commitment to making science accessible to all audiences across the Pacific Northwest.“

The Gracie Awards program, now in its 51st year, celebrates women reporters in television, streaming, radio, audio and digital media. Burns will be honored alongside other local and television award winners at the Gracie Awards Luncheon on Tuesday, June 16, in New York City.

“Women’s stories don’t just reflect the world, they shape it, shift it and refuse to let it stay the same,” said Becky Brooks, president of AWMF. “This year’s honorees are doing exactly that across every platform, every format, every audience. We are proud, we are moved and we are honored to say their names out loud.”

News Source : https://www.opb.org/pressroom/jes-burns-gracie-award/