Awards, Medals and Prizes

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RAS

 

How to nominate for an Award, Medal or Prize

The Society presents several awards, medals and prizes as part of its remit to support and encourage scientists working in the fields of astronomy and geophysics. Some are aimed at young scientists, while others recognise many years of dedicated service to our sciences. Please note the Society encourages nominations that reflect diversity in our community.

Anyone can make a nomination.  It is not necessary to be a Fellow of the Society. All nominations are made in strict confidence; nominees should not be informed of submissions in order to avoid unnecessary disappointment. This does not apply to Education and Outreach Awards (see individual Award descriptions). Click on each Award, Medal or Prize for further information.   

Guidance for nominators:

Case for support

The panel would find it helpful if more general information on the nominee’s contributions to the community could be included in the case for support. For example, mentoring, public engagement work, leadership, committee/panel service, etc. The panel appreciates that such activity will vary according to the career stage of the nominee.

Curriculum Vitae

The CV should be no longer than 4 pages long.  If the CV is not in the public domain, please ensure that you have the nominee's permission to pass on to a third party. Please note that not all award nominations require CVs or publication lists. See particular awards pages for details.

Key Publications List

Please only list the top 10 publications. Please note that not all award nominations require CVs or publication lists. See particular awards pages for details.

Referees

Please ensure you have contacted the referees and that they agree to write a letter of support. They will receive an automated email from us once the nomination has been submitted. 

Lectureships

George Darwin Lecture

Gerald Whitrow Lecture

Harold Jeffreys Lecture

James Dungey Lecture

We would remind you that if you are nominating in this category the awards panels would like to see evidence that the nominee is an authoritative and engaging speaker. Where available please provide links to previous talks. 

 

Closing dates for awards:

Award Category

The Group Award (Geophysics) recognises outstanding achievement by large consortia of academics or Professional–Amateur collaborations in any branch of geophysics (including emerging areas), where…

The Service Award is to honour individuals or team leaders who, through outstanding or exceptional work, have promoted, facilitated or encouraged the sciences of astronomy or geophysics and…

The Harold Jeffreys Lecture is given annually by an authoritative and engaging speaker on a suitable topic in geophysics. The Harold Jeffreys lecture is generally reserved for…

The James Dungey Lecture is given annually by an authoritative and engaging speaker on a suitable topic in geophysics (including solar physics, solar-terrestrial physics, or planetary sciences).…

The Society may honour any person normally resident outside the UK, eminent in the fields of geophysics or closely related branches of science, by election as an Associate of the Society (an…

The Keith Runcorn Prize for the best doctoral thesis in geophysics (including planetary science and solar physics) is awarded annually.  The winner will receive a cash prize of £1,000 and an…

The Patricia Tomkins Prize, for the best doctoral thesis in instrumentation science for astronomy and geophysics is awarded annually. The winner will receive a cash prize of £1,000 and an…

A generous donation from the Patricia Tomkins Foundation funds a RAS scheme of prizes and grants to…

The Primary Education Award is awarded for particularly noteworthy contributions to astronomy or geophysics by primary teachers e.g. by significantly improving attainment,…

The Secondary/FE Education Award is awarded for particularly noteworthy contributions to astronomy or geophysics by secondary or FE teachers e.g. by significantly improving…