Rules and Procedures for Prizes - AAS Solar Physics Division

A. Prize Committee

A Prize Committee is appointed by the Chairperson of the Solar Physics Division in consultation with the Division Committee. The Prize Committee shall consist of five members including a voting chairperson. They shall be chosen for their knowledge of solar astronomy and breadth of scientific perspective. Terms of office of the committee shall be four years with two or three new members being selected each two years.

The Prize Committee will ensure that a reminder of the opportunity of making a nomination is published in the announcements of the Society and of the Division.

If a member of the Prize Committee is proposed for any prize, such a proposal will be deferred for automatic consideration after the proposed individual has rotated off the Prize Committee after his/her term of duty.

B. Hale Prize

The Solar Physics Division of the American Astronomical Society sponsors, with the cooperation of the American Astronomical Society, an Honorary Prize in memory of George Ellery Hale, normally to be awarded annually to a scientist for outstanding contributions over an extended period of time to the field of solar astronomy. The recipient will be invited to deliver a Hale Prize lecture at a joint meeting of the Division and the Society and the text of the lecture will be published in a journal of the Society. The prize-winner will receive a medal, honorarium, and a citation in recognition of his or her contributions. The following regulations govern the award:

Selection is to be based upon outstanding contributions over an extended period of time to the field of solar astronomy. In considering candidates, the Prize Committee is to be guided by the impact of the candidates’ research in solar physics, general astronomy, geophysics, mathematics, and physics.
Any living scientist is eligible to receive the award without consideration of race, sex, or nationality.
Proposals for Hale Prize nominations endorsed by two members of the Society should be submitted to the Prize Committee (see below), who will also be responsible for the selection. The nomination letter should summarize key papers, which form the basis for the proposal, as well as a description of the scientific achievements that justify the award. The full CV including refereed publication list is also required. Additional supporting letters will enhance the nomination. The Prize Committee retains the privilege of considering candidates not proposed by this process.
Nominations for the Hale prize must be updated every three years with at minimum an updated CV and cover letter (other additional materials/updates are also encouraged).
The Prize Committee may nominate a candidate annually, and forwards an up-to-date vitae, a bibliography, and a citation for the nomination to the President of the Society.
The Division has arranged the funding for the medal, honorarium, publication costs (if any) and travel allowance, although the Society, as the legal corporate body, is the legal agent for the administration of the funds for these purposes. The amount of the honorarium is to be set by the Committee of the Division, subject to approval by the Council of the Society.
Formal announcement of the winner of the Hale Prize together with the award citation will be carried in the Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society. A similar announcement in other journals may be made at the discretion of the Division Committee.

As stated in the Bylaws, Section X.2, The above procedures may be changed either by a majority vote of the SPD members voting at a business meeting or by a majority approval by the SPD membership voting by electronic ballot.

C. Harvey Prize

The Solar Physics Division of the American Astronomical Society sponsors, with the cooperation of the American Astronomical Society, an Honorary Prize in memory of Karen Harvey, normally to be awarded annually to a scientist for a significant contribution to the study of the Sun early in a person’s professional career. The recipient will be invited to deliver a Harvey Prize lecture at a joint meeting of the Division and the Society. The prize-winner will receive an honorarium and a citation in recognition of his or her contributions. The following regulations govern the award:

Selection is to be based upon a significant contribution to the study of the Sun early in a person’s professional career. The prize will be awarded to a person who has not reached 36 years of age, or who has not reached ten years of cumulative professional experience since the PhD or equivalent degree, at the end of the year preceding the award.
The award is open to anyone who meets the age or professional experience requirement, without regard to sex, race, nationality, or membership in the SPD.
A letter of nomination with supporting letters of endorsement, and full CV including a list of publications should be submitted to the Prize Committee (see below) who will also be responsible for the selection. The Prize Committee retains the privilege of considering candidates not proposed by this process.
Nominations for the Harvey prize must be updated every year with at minimum an updated CV and cover letter (other additional materials/updates are also encouraged).
The Prize Committee may nominate a candidate annually. Up-to-date vitae, a bibliography, and a citation for the nomination will be forwarded to the President of the Society.
The Division has arranged the funding for the honorarium and travel allowance, although the Society, as the legal corporate body, is the legal agent for the administration of the funds for these purposes. The amount of the honorarium is to be set by the Committee of the Division, subject to approval by the Council of the Society.
Formal announcement of the winner of the Harvey Prize together with the award citation will be carried in the Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society. A similar announcement in other journals may be made at the discretion of the Division Committee.