Honors Policies & Procedures

(As approved by the Council of Representatives on April 12, 2023.)

Preamble: In the following text, "Society" signifies the American Physical Society, "Council" and “Board” signifies the Council of Representatives and the Board of Directors of the Society, respectively, and “Units” signify the Divisions, Topical Groups, Forum, and Sections of the Society.

H1. Definitions:

H1.1 Society Prizes and Awards: Society Prizes and Awards are conferred to recognize any achievement, including outstanding research accomplishments, and are not restricted to recognizing achievements in any particular subdiscipline of physics. All Society Prizes and Awards are administered by the Society.

The Society Prizes and Awards are:

The APS Medal for Exceptional Achievement in Research recognizes contributions of the highest level that advance our knowledge and understanding of the physical universe in all its facets.

The Julius Edgar Lilienfeld Prize recognizes outstanding contributions to physics and exceptional skills in lecturing to diverse audiences.

The George E. Valley, Jr. Prize recognizes an early-career individual for an outstanding scientific contribution to physics that is deemed to have significant potential for a dramatic impact on the field.

The LeRoy Apker Award recognizes outstanding achievements in physics by undergraduate students, and provides encouragement to students who have demonstrated great potential for future scientific accomplishment.

H1.2 Prizes: Prizes are conferred to recognize outstanding research accomplishments and must carry a stipend of at least $10,000.

The Prizes are:

The Will Allis Prize for the Study of Ionized Gases recognizes outstanding research into the microscopic or macroscopic behavior of ionized gases. The Allis Prize is administered by the Division of Atomic, Molecular, and Optical Physics.

The Hans A. Bethe Prize recognizes outstanding work in theory, experiment or observation in the areas of astrophysics, nuclear physics, nuclear astrophysics, or closely related fields. The Bethe Prize is jointly administered by the Division of Astrophysics and the Division of Nuclear Physics.

The Tom W. Bonner Prize in Nuclear Physics recognizes outstanding experimental research in nuclear physics, including the development of a method, technique, or device that significantly contributes to nuclear physics research. The Bonner Prize is administered by the Division of Nuclear Physics.

The Oliver E. Buckley Condensed Matter Physics Prize recognizes outstanding theoretical or experimental contributions to condensed matter physics. The Buckley Prize is administered by the Division of Condensed Matter Physics.

The Davisson-Germer Prize in Atomic or Surface Physics recognizes outstanding work in atomic physics or surface physics. The Davisson-Germer Prize is jointly administered by the Division of Atomic, Molecular, and Optical Physics and the Division of Condensed Matter Physics.

The Max Delbrück Prize in Biological Physics recognizes outstanding achievement in biological physics research. The Delbrück Prize is administered by the Division of Biological Physics.

The Mildred Dresselhaus Prize in Nanoscience or Nanomaterials recognizes an outstanding scientist in the areas of nanoscience or nanomaterials. The Dresselhaus Prize is jointly administered by the Division of Condensed Matter Physics and the Division of Materials Physics.

The Einstein Prize recognizes outstanding accomplishments in the field of gravitational physics. The Einstein Prize is administered by the Division of Gravitational Physics.

The Prize for a Faculty Member for Research in an Undergraduate Institution recognizes a physicist whose research in an undergraduate setting has achieved wide recognition and contributed significantly to physics and who has contributed substantially to the professional development of undergraduate physics students. The Faculty Research Prize is administered by the Committee on Education.

The Herman Feshbach Prize in Theoretical Nuclear Physics recognizes outstanding research in theoretical nuclear physics. The Feshbach Prize is administered by the Division of Nuclear Physics.

The Fluid Dynamics Prize recognizes outstanding achievement in fluid dynamics research. The Fluid Dynamics Prize is administered by the Division of Fluid Dynamics.

The Dannie Heineman Prize for Mathematical Physics recognizes outstanding publications in the field of mathematical physics. The Heineman Prize is jointly administered by the Society and the American Institute of Physics.

The Frank Isakson Prize for Optical Effects in Solids recognizes outstanding optical research that lead to breakthroughs in the condensed matter sciences. The Isakson Prize is administered by the Division of Condensed Matter Physics.

The Leo P. Kadanoff Prize recognizes scientists whose theoretical, experimental, or computational achievements have opened new vistas for statistical and or nonlinear physics. The Kadanoff Prize is administered by the Topical Group on Statistical and Nonlinear Physics.

The James Clerk Maxwell Prize for Plasma Physics recognizes outstanding contributions to the field of plasma physics. The Maxwell Prize is administered by the Division of Plasma Physics.

The James C. McGroddy Prize for New Materials recognizes outstanding achievement in the science and application of new materials. The McGroddy Prize is administered by the Division of Materials Physics.

The Lars Onsager Prize recognizes outstanding research in theoretical statistical physics including the quantum fluids. The Onsager Prize is jointly administered by the Division of Condensed Matter Physics and the Topical Group on Statistical and Nonlinear Physics.

The Abraham Pais Prize for History of Physics recognizes outstanding scholarly achievements in the history of physics. The Pais Prize is administered by the Forum on the History and Philosophy of Physics.

The George E. Pake Prize recognizes outstanding work by physicists combining original research accomplishments with leadership in the management of research or development in industry. The Pake Prize is administered by the Forum on Industrial and Applied Physics.

The W.K.H. Panofsky Prize in Experimental Particle Physics recognizes outstanding achievements in experimental particle physics. The Panofsky Prize is administered by the Division of Particles and Fields.

The Earle K. Plyler Prize for Molecular Spectroscopy & Dynamics recognizes notable contributions to the field of molecular spectroscopy and dynamics. The Plyler Prize is administered by the Division of Chemical Physics.

The Polymer Physics Prize recognizes outstanding accomplishment and excellence of contributions in polymer physics research. The Polymer Physics Prize is administered by the Division of Polymer Physics.

The I.I. Rabi Prize in Atomic, Molecular, and Optical Physics recognizes outstanding early-career research in atomic, molecular, and optical physics. The Rabi Prize is administered by the Division of Atomic, Molecular, and Optical Physics.

The Aneesur Rahman Prize for Computational Physics recognizes outstanding achievement in computational physics research. The Rahman Prize is administered by the Division of Computational Physics.

The Norman F. Ramsey Prize in Atomic, Molecular and Optical Physics, and in Precision Tests of Fundamental Laws and Symmetries recognizes outstanding accomplishments in the two fields of Norman Ramsey: atomic, molecular, and optical physics; and precision tests of fundamental laws and symmetries. The Ramsey Prize is jointly administered by the Division of Atomic, Molecular, and Optical Physics and the Topical Group on Precision Measurement & Fundamental Constants.

The Andrei Sakharov Prize recognizes outstanding leadership and achievements of scientists in upholding human rights. The Sakharov Prize is administered by the Committee on International Freedom of Scientists.

The J. J. Sakurai Prize for Theoretical Particle Physics recognizes outstanding achievement in particle theory. The Sakurai Prize is administered by the Division of Particles and Fields.

The Arthur L. Schawlow Prize in Laser Science recognizes outstanding contributions to basic research using lasers to advance our knowledge of the fundamental physical properties of materials and their interaction with light. The Schawlow Prize is administered by the Division of Laser Science.

The Robert R. Wilson Prize for Achievement in the Physics of Particle Accelerators recognizes outstanding achievement in the physics of particle accelerators. The Wilson Prize is administered by the Division of Particles and Fields.

H1.3 Awards: Awards are conferred to recognize any achievement, including outstanding research accomplishments, and must carry a stipend of at least $5,000.

The Awards are:

The Edward A. Bouchet Award recognizes a distinguished minority physicist who has made significant contributions to physics research and the advancement of underrepresented minority scientists. The Bouchet Award is administered by the Committee on Minorities in Physics.

The Herbert P. Broida Award recognizes outstanding experimental advancements in the fields of atomic and molecular spectroscopy or chemical physics. The Broida Award is jointly administered by the Division of Atomic, Molecular, and Optical Physics and the Division of Chemical Physics.

The Joseph A. Burton Forum Award recognizes outstanding contributions to the public understanding or resolution of issues involving the interface of physics and society. The Burton Award is administered by the Forum on Physics and Society.

The Stanley Corrsin Award recognizes and encourages a particularly influential contribution to fundamental fluid dynamics. The Corrsin Award is administered by the Division of Fluid Dynamics.

The John Dawson Award for Excellence in Plasma Physics Research recognizes a particular recent outstanding achievement in plasma physics research. The Dawson Award is administered by the Division of Plasma Physics.

The John H. Dillon Medal recognizes outstanding research accomplishments by early-career polymer physicists who have demonstrated exceptional research promise. The Dillon Medal is administered by the Division of Polymer Physics.

The George E. Duvall Shock Compression Science Award recognizes contributions to understanding condensed matter and non-linear physics through shock compression. The Duvall Award is administered by the Topical Group on Shock Compression of Condensed Matter.

The Excellence in Physics Education Award recognizes a team, collaboration, or an exceptional individual who has exhibited a sustained commitment to excellence in physics education. The Education Award is administered by the Forum on Education.

The Stuart Jay Freedman Award in Experimental Nuclear Physics recognizes an outstanding early career experimentalist in nuclear physics. The Freedman Award is administered by the Division of Nuclear Physics.

The Richard A. Isaacson Award in Gravitational-Wave Science recognizes outstanding contributions in gravitational-wave physics, gravitational-wave astrophysics, and the technologies that enable this science. The Isaacson Award is administered by the Division of Gravitational Physics.

The Joseph F. Keithley Award For Advances in Measurement Science recognizes physicists who have been instrumental in the development of measurement techniques or equipment that have an impact on the physics community by providing better measurements. The Keithley Award is administered by the Topical Group on Instrument and Measurement Science.

The Lev D. Landau and Lyman Spitzer Jr. Award for Outstanding Contributions to Plasma Physics recognizes an individual or group of researchers for outstanding theoretical, experimental, or technical contributions in plasma physics and for advancing the collaboration and unity between Europe and the United States of America by joint research or research that advances knowledge that benefits the two communities in a unique way. The Landau-Spitzer Award is jointly administered by the Division of Plasma Physics and the European Physical Society.

The Rolf Landauer and Charles H. Bennett Award in Quantum Computing recognizes recent outstanding contributions in quantum information science, especially using quantum effects to perform computational and information-management tasks that would be impossible or infeasible by purely classical means. The Landauer-Bennett Award is administered by the Division of Quantum Information.

The Irving Langmuir Award in Chemical Physics recognizes outstanding interdisciplinary research in chemistry and physics, in the spirit of Irving Langmuir. The Langmuir Award is jointly administered by the Division of Chemical Physics and the American Chemical Society.

The Maria Goeppert Mayer Award recognizes and enhances outstanding achievement by a woman physicist in the early years of her career, and provides opportunities for her to present these achievements to others through public lectures in the spirit of Maria Goeppert Mayer. The Mayer Award is administered by the Committee on the Status of Women in Physics.

The Dwight Nicholson Medal for Outreach recognizes the humanitarian aspect of physics and physicists created through public lectures and public media, teaching, research, or science related activities. The Nicholson Medal is administered by the Forum on Outreach and Engaging the Public.

The Irwin Oppenheim Award recognizes outstanding contributions to physics by early-career scientists who publish in Physical Review E (PRE). The Oppenheim Award is administered by the Society.

The Francis M. Pipkin Award recognizes exceptional research accomplishments by an early-career scientist in the interdisciplinary area of precision measurement and fundamental constants and encourages the wide dissemination of the research results. The Pipkin Award is administered by the Topical Group on Precision Measurement and Fundamental Constants.

The Henry Primakoff Award for Early-Career Particle Physics recognizes outstanding contributions made by early-career physicists and helps promote the careers of exceptionally promising physicists. The Primakoff Award is administered by the Division of Particles and Fields.

The Jonathan F. Reichert and Barbara Wolff-Reichert Award for Excellence in Advanced Laboratory Instruction recognizes outstanding achievement in teaching, sustaining (for at least four years), and enhancing an advanced undergraduate laboratory course or courses at U.S. institutions. The Reichert Award is administered by the Forum on Education.

The Early Career Award for Soft Matter Research recognizes outstanding and sustained contributions by an early-career researcher to the soft matter field. The Soft Matter Award is administered by the Division of Soft Matter.

The Thomas H. Stix Award for Outstanding Early Career Contributions to Plasma Physics Research recognizes an early-career researcher who has made outstanding theoretical, experimental, computational, or technical contributions in plasma physics. The Stix Award is administered by the Division of Plasma Physics.

The John Wheatley Award recognizes the dedication of physicists who have made contributions to the development of physics across the globe. The Wheatley Award is administered by the Forum on International Physics.

H1.4 Lectureship Awards: Lectureship Awards are conferred to recognize any achievement, including outstanding research accomplishments, and must carry funding to support the dissemination of the cited achievements through public speaking or lecturing.

The Lectureship Awards are:

The David Adler Lectureship Award in the Field of Materials Physics recognizes an outstanding contributor to the field of materials physics who is notable for high quality research, review articles, and lecturing. The Adler Lectureship Award is administered by the Division of Materials Physics.

The Esther Hoffman Beller Lectureship provides funding and support to bring distinguished physicists from abroad to present invited talks at APS meetings. The Beller Lectureship is administered by the Society.

The Distinguished Lectureship Award on the Applications of Physics recognizes physicists in industrial and other non-academic careers for their significant contributions to the advancement of physics of a technical, industrial, or entrepreneurial nature and for their demonstrated ability to give interesting and engaging lectures to both experts and non-experts. The Distinguished Lectureship Award is administered by the Forum on Industrial and Applied Physics.

The Robert E. Marshak Lectureship provides travel support for physicists of any career level (i.e., from graduate student to senior scientist) from developing nations or Eastern Europe invited to speak at APS meetings. The Marshak Lectureship is administered by the Society.

The Leo Szilard Lectureship Award recognizes outstanding accomplishments by physicists in promoting the use of physics for the benefit of society in such areas as the environment, arms control, and science policy. The Szilard Lectureship Award is administered by the Forum on Physics and Society.

H1.5 Early Career Honors: Early Career Honors are any honor listed above with nominee eligibility restricted to a defined period following the nominee’s terminal degree date. Early career honors must carry a stipend of at least $3,000, regardless of any minimum requirements otherwise expressed.

H1.6 Dissertation Awards: Dissertation Awards are conferred to recognize individuals who performed research as the final requirement of a doctoral degree and must carry a stipend of at least $1,500.

The Dissertation Awards are:

The Andreas Acrivos Dissertation Award in Fluid Dynamics recognizes exceptional early-career scientists who have performed original doctoral thesis work of outstanding scientific quality and achievement in the area of fluid dynamics. The Acrivos Dissertation Award is administered by the Division of Fluid Dynamics.

The Carl E. Anderson Division of Laser Science Dissertation Award recognizes doctoral research in laser science and encourages the effective written and oral presentation of research results. The Anderson Dissertation Award is administered by the Division of Laser Science.

The Award for Outstanding Doctoral Thesis Research in Biological Physics recognizes doctoral thesis research of outstanding quality and achievement in any area of experimental, computational, engineering, or theoretical biological physics and encourages effective written and oral presentation of research results. The DBIO Dissertation Award is administered by the Division of Biological Physics.

The Dissertation Award in Nuclear Physics recognizes doctoral thesis research of outstanding quality and achievement in nuclear physics. The DNP Dissertation Award is administered by the Division of Nuclear Physics.

The Outstanding Doctoral Thesis Research in Beam Physics Award recognizes doctoral thesis research of outstanding quality and achievement in beam physics and engineering. The DPB Dissertation Award is administered by the Division of Physics of Beams.

The Dissertation Award in Hadronic Physics recognizes outstanding early-career scientists who have performed original research in the area of hadronic physics. The GHP Dissertation Award is administered by the Topical Group on Hadronic Physics.

The Richard L. Greene Dissertation Award in Experimental Condensed Matter or Materials Physics recognizes doctoral thesis research of exceptional quality and importance in experimental condensed matter or experimental materials physics. The Greene Dissertation Award is jointly administered by the Division of Condensed Matter Physics and the Division of Materials Physics.

The Dissertation Award in Statistical and Nonlinear Physics recognizes exceptional early-career scientists who have performed original doctoral thesis work of outstanding scientific quality in statistical and nonlinear physics. The GSNP Dissertation Award is administered by the Topical Group on Statistical and Nonlinear Physics.

The Justin Jankunas Doctoral Dissertation Award in Chemical Physics recognizes doctoral thesis research of outstanding quality and achievement in chemical physics. The Jankunas Dissertation Award is administered by the Division of Chemical Physics.

The Deborah Jin Award for Outstanding Doctoral Thesis Research in Atomic, Molecular, or Optical Physics recognizes doctoral thesis research of outstanding quality and achievement in atomic, molecular, or optical physics and encourages effective written and oral presentation of research results. The Jin Dissertation Award is administered by the Division of Atomic, Molecular, and Optical Physics.

The Nicholas Metropolis Award for Outstanding Doctoral Thesis Work in Computational Physics recognizes doctoral thesis research of outstanding quality and achievement in computational physics and encourages effective written and oral presentation of research results. The Metropolis Dissertation Award is administered by the Division of Computational Physics.

The Cecilia Payne-Gaposchkin Doctoral Dissertation Award in Astrophysics recognizes doctoral thesis in research in astrophysics, and encourages the effective written and oral presentation of research results. The Payne-Gaposchkin Dissertation Award is administered by the Division of Astrophysics.

The Marshall N. Rosenbluth Outstanding Doctoral Thesis Award recognizes exceptional early-career scientists who have performed original thesis work of outstanding scientific quality and achievement in the area of plasma physics. The Rosenbluth Dissertation Award is administered by the Division of Plasma Physics.

The J. J. and Noriko Sakurai Dissertation Award in Theoretical Particle Physics recognizes exceptional early-career scientists who have performed original doctoral thesis work of outstanding scientific quality and achievement in the area of theoretical particle physics. The Sakurai Dissertation Award is administered by the Division of Particles and Fields.

The Mitsuyoshi Tanaka Dissertation Award in Experimental Particle Physics recognizes exceptional early-career scientists who have performed original doctoral thesis work of outstanding scientific quality and achievement in the area of experimental particle physics. The Tanaka Dissertation Award is administered by the Division of Particles and Fields.

H1.7 APS Fellowship: APS Fellowship is conferred for the purposes defined in the Society’s Constitution & Bylaws and the Council’s Policies & Procedures: Fellows are elected based on their contributions to physics. Such contributions may consist of advances in knowledge through original research and publication or of significant and innovative contributions in the applications of physics to science and technology. They may also consist of significant contributions to the teaching of physics or service and participation in the activities of the Society. Candidates for Fellowship must be a member in good standing at the time of nomination submission. The number of recommended nominees in each year may not exceed one-half percent of the then current membership of the Society, excluding Student members.

H1.8 Research Fellowships: Research Fellowships are conferred to support a defined body of research and must carry a stipend restricted to supporting the research or related costs.

The Research Fellowships are:

The M. Hildred Blewett Fellowship enables women to return to physics research careers after having had to interrupt those careers. The Blewett Research Fellowship is administered by the Committee on the Status of Women in Physics.

The Stanford R. Ovshinsky Sustainable Energy Fellowship recognizes and offers seed funding for promising exploratory research aimed at energy sustainability. The Ovshinsky Research Fellowship is administered by the Topical Group on Energy Research and Applications.

H1.9 APS Historic Sites: APS Historic Sites are designated for the purposes defined in the Council’s Policies & Procedures.

H1.10 Unit Awards: Units Awards may be conferred by units to recognize any achievement, including outstanding research accomplishments, and may carry an unrestricted stipend, a stipend restricted to supporting research or related costs, or funding to support the dissemination of the cited achievements through public speaking or lecturing.

H2. Administration:

H2.1 Limits: Each unit or standing committee may solely administer not more than one Prize, Award, or Early Career Honor, with exceptions for units having multiple Prizes, Awards, or Early Career Honors at the time of the 2018 APS Prizes and Awards Committee Review of the APS Honors Portfolio, approved by the Council on 9 November, 2018:

Division of Atomic, Molecular and Optical Physics: (1) Will Allis Prize for the Study of Ionized Gases, (2) I.I. Rabi Prize in Atomic, Molecular, and Optical Physics

Division of Condensed Matter Physics: (1) Oliver E. Buckley Condensed Matter Physics Prize, (2) Frank Isakson Prize for Optical Effects in Solids

Division of Nuclear Physics: (1) Tom W. Bonner Prize in Nuclear Physics, (2) Herman Feshbach Prize in Theoretical Nuclear Physics

Division of Particles and Fields: (1) W.K.H. Panofsky Prize in Experimental Particle Physics, (2) J. J. Sakurai Prize for Theoretical Particle Physics

Forum on Education: (1) Jonathan F. Reichert and Barbara Wolff-Reichert Award for Excellence in Advanced Laboratory Instruction, (2) Excellence in Physics Education Award

H2.2 Canvassing and Promotion: APS Staff will provide support for general promotion of nomination opportunities for APS Fellows, Prizes, and Awards. Unit Executive Committees and standing committees should also promote honors nomination opportunities using many methods. Selection committee members are prohibited from directly soliciting or orchestrating specific nominations for the honors they will be selecting but may encourage or promote nominations in general, including for the honors they will be selecting.

H2.3 Shared Administration: Units and standing committees may share administration of an honor with one or more other units or standing committees or with external organizations. All parties involved in shared administration must jointly develop clear, cooperative, and balanced procedures to ensure the honor is administered following the Society’s policies and procedures.

H2.4 Full Cost to Confer an Honor: The full cost to confer an honor is the total of the following costs: the stipend, reasonable travel and accommodations for the recipient to attend a presentation ceremony, a certificate, costs for administration, and any other costs unique to the honor.

H2.5 Endowments or Corpus Funds: The full cost to confer Society Prizes and Awards, Prizes, Awards, and Dissertation Awards may be supported by an endowment or corpus fund that must be kept greater than or equal to thirty times the yearly cost of the honor stipend.

H2.6 Sponsorship Agreements: The full cost to confer any honor may be supported by an external sponsor approved by the APS Development Office.

H2.7 Unit Operating Funds: The full cost to confer a Unit Award may be supported by unit operating funds. The full cost to confer a Prize, Award, or Dissertation Award may be supported by unit operating funds only as an interim step before establishing an endowment or corpus fund or securing a sponsorship agreement. The use of unit funds in this manner should normally be limited to three years.

H2.8 Establishing, Discontinuing, or Modifying a Prize, Award, Lectureship Award, Dissertation Award, or Research Fellowship: APS Divisions, Topical Groups, Forums, and standing committees may submit a proposal to establish, discontinue, or modify a Prize, Award, Lectureship Award, Dissertation Award, or Research Fellowship to the Prizes and Awards Committee. The Committee will evaluate and rule on proposals to retire or modify existing honors. The Committee may forward proposals for new honors, in the original form or with modifications, to the Council. The Council may recommend approval of new honors to the Board.

The Prizes and Awards Committee and the Council must evaluate whether a proposal for a new honor is consistent with the Society’s policies and procedures and may consider, among other things, whether the scope of the new honor is appropriately aligned with the scope of the unit or the Society, the finances of the unit’s existing honors, and the nomination history of the unit’s existing honors.

H2.9 Establishing, Discontinuing, or Modifying a Unit Award: The Executive Committees of units may establish, discontinue, or modify Unit Awards in coordination with the APS Membership Department.

H2.10 Reporting: Units or standing committees may be required to provide, with reasonable notice, information related to the administration of an honor to the Society, occasionally or regularly.

H2.11 Guarantee of Invited Papers for Honor Recipients: Units or standing committees which administer Prizes, Awards, Lectureship Awards, or Dissertation Awards should guarantee an invited paper to recipients of such honors at a scientific meeting for which the unit or standing committee is allocated invited sessions.

H2.12 Exceptions: Petitions for exceptions to APS Honors Program policies and procedures must be first reviewed by the Prizes and Awards Committee or by the Committee on Fellowship. The appropriate committee may forward policy exception requests to the Council for consideration.

H3. Nominations:

H3.1 Honors in Recognition of a Given Achievement. An individual must not receive more than one Society Prize and Award, Prize, Award, or Lectureship Award for any given work or achievement unless the individual has significantly extended the previously-recognized work or achievements such that further recognition is appropriate.

H3.2 Nominator Limitations: An individual may only participate in one active nomination for a particular prize or award, excluding nominations for APS Fellowship and Unit Awards. Any individual serving on a selection committee must not participate in any nominations reviewed by the selection committee regardless of the nomination’s original submit date. Participating in a nomination is considered serving as a nominator, serving as a co-sponsor, or writing a letter in support of a nomination submitted by another individual. APS membership must not be imposed as a requirement to submit nominations for Society Prizes and Awards, Prizes, and Awards.

H3.3 Consideration Period for Society Prize and Award, Prize, Award, and Lectureship Award Nominations: Nominations for Society Prizes and Awards, Prizes, Awards, and Lectureship Awards must be reconsidered in the next nomination cycle, in either the original form or in an updated form, provided the nominator recertifies the nomination prior to the deadline and provided any other eligibility requirements are still met. A nomination not recommended after review by three consecutive selection committees is considered expired and is removed from further consideration, unless a different period is specified in the honor rules. Expired nominees may be renominated.

H3.4 Consideration Period for Fellowship Nominations: Nominations for APS Fellowship must be reconsidered in the next nomination cycle, in either the original form or in an updated form, provided the nominator recertifies the nomination prior to the deadline. A nomination not recommended after review by two consecutive selection committees is considered expired and is removed from further consideration. Expired nominees may be renominated.

H3.5 Team Nominations: Multiple individuals may be nominated together as a team for Society Prizes and Awards, Prize, and Awards unless otherwise stated in the individual honor rules. Teams should include only primary members who made original and indispensable contributions.

H3.6 Self Nominations: An individual must not be permitted to nominate themselves for Society Prizes and Awards, Prizes, Awards, and Dissertation Awards, except for the Irwin Oppenheim Award.

H3.7 Posthumous Honors: Nominations of known deceased persons must not be considered. Honors may be conferred posthumously if the recipient is approved following Society policies and procedures prior to death.

H3.8 Frequency of Presentation: Honors may be conferred annually, biennially, quadrennially, or not at all if no suitable nominees are available.

H3.9 Career-Stage Restrictions: Eligibility for honors may be restricted by an individual’s career stage, typically defined by the number of years since the individual received a terminal degree. Honors with career-stage restrictions must include exceptions for career breaks due to child, dependent, or family care, illness, military service, or similar reasons.

H4. Selection Committees:

H4.1 Selection Committees: Selection committees recommend recipients to the appropriate entity for approval, if qualified nominees are available. Honors selection committees are appointed by the unit, committee, or other body which has oversight over the honor. Appointments are subject to verification of compliance with Honors Policies and Procedures by APS staff, with oversight by the respective Council Committee: Prizes & Awards or Fellowship.

H4.2 Selection Committee Composition: Selection committees should be composed of a chair, vice chair, and additional members. The vice chair serves one year before moving into the chair position to serve one additional year as chair. Units without a selection-committee chair and vice chair process like this should adopt and follow a process that ensures continuity, information transfer, and institutional memory from year to year. The overseeing unit, committee, or other body determines the role of the chair, i.e. convening or voting role. When the chair is a convener only, the chair may serve as substitute reviewer for nominations which otherwise lack a sufficient number of reviewers.

H4.3 Onboarding: Any individual serving on a selection committee for a Society Prize or Award, Prize, Award, Dissertation Award, or APS Fellowship is required to certify they have reviewed and understand a set of onboarding materials related to the scope and purpose of the honor, Society policies and procedures, or other matters determined by the Society.

H4.4 Conflicts of Interest: Conflicts of interest arise between reviewer and nominee in situations where there are close personal or professional relationships, lines of authority, or fiscal responsibility. Some examples include:

  • Residing at the same institution, division, or department within the past four years
  • Collaborations (co-authors, postdocs, etc.) published within the past four years
  • Financial via direct chain of command and/or participation in tenure, promotion, salary or forms of support by either party
  • Member of the same center or sharing any funding contract
  • Relationship due to immediate blood relation or current or prior marriage or civil union
  • Current or prior students, advisees, and advisors
  • Nominator or participant in the nomination package

Selection committee members are responsible for disclosing all potential conflicts of interest prior to review and assessment of nominations. The primary conflicts of concern are those between selection committee members and nominees and their institutions. Conflicts between selection committee members and nominators or supporters and their institutions are secondary but should be disclosed so all committee members are aware, and they can be managed by the selection committee. Selection committees are responsible for monitoring, handling, and reporting resolution for conflicts of interest.

Immediately after nominations are available for review, committee members should review the list of nominees and their institutions/departments and disclose to the entire committee any conflicts of interest as described above or other potential conflicts as the list of examples is not exhaustive. The committee should unanimously agree on a response based on the level of the conflict. Recusal from scoring and discussion of the person with whom a committee member has a conflict is likely appropriate for most cases. In more serious cases, a new committee member may need to be identified. In some cases, disclosure to the committee may be considered sufficient. The chair is responsible for documenting the details of each conflict and the committee’s unanimous response in the chair report. If the committee cannot agree unanimously, the conflicted committee member(s) should be recused from scoring and discussing the affected nomination(s).

Given the large size of many institutions where physicists work, and the number and variety of their departments/divisions, shared institutional affiliation is less of a concern in these cases than shared department/division affiliation. Similarly, co-authorship of a multi-hundred-author paper from a major collaboration should be addressed pragmatically, based on the closeness of collaboration between the specific committee member and specific nominee.

A nomination may not be deferred, and at least three reviewers must review each individual nomination. Selection committees should be sized with this in mind. Committees may have pre-appointed standby members or substitutes, in case they are needed for some nominations. A convening chair, if non-conflicted, could fill this role.

H4.5 Reporting: Selection committee chairs must provide the Society with information or documentation related to the selection of a recommended recipient.

H4.6 Approval of Recommended Recipients for Society Prizes and Awards, Prizes, Awards, and Research Fellowships: The Prizes and Awards Committee must review documentation from selection committees regarding the recommended recipients of Society Prizes and Awards, Prizes, Awards, and Research Fellowships, to ensure the selection process was completed following Society policies and procedures. If so, the Prizes and Awards Committee must forward the recommended recipients to the Council for approval.

H4.7 Approval of Recommended Recipients for APS Fellowship: The Committee on Fellowship must review documentation from selection committees regarding the recommended recipients of APS Fellowship, to ensure the selection process was completed following Society policies and procedures. If so, the Committee must forward the recommended recipients to the Council for election.

H4.8 Approval of Recommended Recipients for Dissertation Awards and Unit Awards: Unit Executive Committees should review documentation from selection committees regarding the recommended recipients of Dissertation Awards and Unit Awards, to ensure the selection process was completed following Society policies and procedures.

H4.9 Communication to Recipients, Nominees, and Nominators: Official communication to recipients, nominees, and nominators of Society Prizes and Awards, Awards, Prizes, Dissertation Awards, and APS Fellowship must be coordinated by the Society.

H4.10 Confidentiality: Individuals serving on a selection committee must not disclose information about the committee’s business to individuals outside of the selection process. Selection committee business includes the committee’s deliberations, the number of nominations reviewed, conflicts of interest, and other sensitive information. The selection committee must follow the Society’s policies and procedures to report the outcomes of the committee’s business.

H5. Recipients:

H5.1 Acceptance Procedures: Individuals selected to receive honors may be required to disclose requested information or complete a certification before the honor is conferred.