Hiro Hotline

One Award, Many Voices

The Klaus J. Jacobs Research Prize is one of the most significant international awards for research into the development of children and adolescents. In 2025, the prize was awarded to Hirokazu 'Hiro' Yoshikawa, a developmental researcher from New York University. His work demonstrates how political frameworks and programmes, ranging from early childhood education to migration policy, influence the development of children and adolescents worldwide, with effects that persist into adulthood.

catta was honoured to collaborate closely with the awardee to develop the science communication around Yoshikawa's research. Together, we developed an overarching storyline and produced English-language content for various target audiences, ranging from professionals to the general public. This included writing texts for different formats, curating and editing an exhibition, and conceiving and implementing the project website, 'Hiro Hotline'.

From an organisational perspective too, the project was particularly international: During the collaboration, discussions and coordination took place between Switzerland, various regions of the USA, Germany, Bangladesh and Colombia.

Listening as a Method

Hiro Yoshikawa's research is diverse and has a global focus. It connects political programmes, educational research, and practical work with families in areas such as early childhood education programmes and refugee contexts. Conveying this content and geographical diversity in an understandable way was a key challenge for science communicators.
During our conversation, Yoshikawa shared that active listening had shaped his entire scientific career. Many of his insights stem from direct interactions with people who have had vastly different life experiences.

This idea became the guiding theme of the communication. For the exhibition and the website, we developed the format of a telephone hotline. Visitors can hear from Yoshikawa and some of his colleagues themselves and learn firsthand about his research and its relevance.

Most of the project's content remains publicly accessible on the Jacobs Foundation website.

catta's role: Storyline development in collaboration with client and awardee, writing various texts (in English) for invitations, media, and other communication, curation & texts for exhibition, close collaboration with exhibition organizers, conception and implementation of website about the awardee

Partners: Anna Soßdorf Communication, Global TIES for Children NYU, Dunkel Design, standing ovation AG, Instant Waves Media