The winners of the latest SfAM Communication Award talk to us about what motivates them to use the media as a vehicle for communicating science. Adam Rutherford - a scientist turned broadcaster - gets out of bed in the morning for the 'wow' factor in science stories he discovers. Ron Cutler does research in infection control and feels passionately that media appearances give him a priceless opportunity to tell people about the importance of hygiene and cleanliness.