Jolie Gan Wins O'Shaughnessy Fellowship to Expand Science Storytelling

The fellowship provides a grant and access to a network of investors and founders, marking Gan as the eighth recipient of the 2026 program. She plans to use the funding to refine the publication’s model, which pairs writers, artists, and researchers for themed editions and live exhibitions. Her approach prioritizes the process of discovery and the personal stories behind failed experiments, rather than the results-driven focus of academic reporting.

Gan, an MIT alumna with a background in computational neuroscience, launched the publication in November 2025. Her initial event drew over 350 attendees, supported by backers such as Pebblebed and Asimov Press. Jim O'Shaughnessy, founder of OSV, noted that Gan’s work captures the thrill of science by treating it with the same creative depth as art. For her part, Gan views the fellowship as a validation of new, unconventional paths for scientific communication, emphasizing that the institutions shaping public understanding of progress are currently undergoing a significant shift.