Prizes

SPD Prizes and Awards

The SPD sponsors the following prizes and awards:

• The George Ellery Hale Prize, awarded to a scientist for outstanding contributions to the field of solar astronomy.
• The Karen Harvey Prize, awarded in recognition for a significant contribution to the study of the Sun early in a person's professional career.
• Three Popular Media Awards to authors of popular or semi-popular articles on the Sun or the effects of the Sun on the Earth's environment. One award is made to scientists, another is made to science writers and journalists and a new third award is made to students.
• The Tom Metcalf Lecturer Program: In consultation with Tom Metcalf's family, the Solar Physics Division (SPD) has established the Thomas Metcalf SPD Travel Fund to help support newer members' expenses for attending meetings relevant to solar physics. AAS members can donate here (login required).
• SPD Studentship Awards are given annually to outstanding undergraduate and graduate students who are interested in pursuing a career in solar physics. More details are given on the SPD Students page.
• SPD Certificates of Appreciation will be given for exceptional contributions in a managerial or other non-technical role that significantly advance the discipline of solar physics. Nominations of potential recipients can be submitted to the SPD Committee at any time and should include a written statement of why the individual is deserving of special recognition. The Committee will decide whether a certificate is merited. Typically, no more than one certificate will be awarded in any given year. The certificate will be presented at the next SPD business (members) meeting, and the nomination letter will be published in SolarNews.

The SPD also sponsors a series of Parker Lectures (named after Professor Eugene Parker of the University of Chicago) at SPD Meetings that highlight active fields of solar research.

---

Nominations for the Hale and Harvey Prizes must be submitted through the AAS nominations portal beginning October 1 annually. The deadline for submission of nominations is November 15. Please read the following instructions carefully. Questions regarding nominations should be addressed to Tim Bastian (tbastian@nrao.edu). Technical issues about the web submissions should be addressed to Neelab Yousafzai (Neelab.Yousafzai@aas.org).

Hale Prize

The SPD awards this honorary prize, in memory of George Ellery Hale, to a scientist for outstanding contributions over an extended period of time to the field of solar astronomy. In considering candidates, the Prize Committee is 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, nationality, or membership in SPD.

The nomination 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 referred publication list is also required. A link to an ADS library listing the nominee's publications is encouraged. All materials should be submitted through this portal: https://aas.secure-platform.com/a/solicitations/160/home.

Nomination Checklist:

1. Verify eligibility by reviewing the recipient list to confirm that your proposed candidate is eligible for the Hale Prize and has not already received it.
2. The candidate's curriculum vitae (CV).
3. A bibliography of the candidate's published articles. An ADS library is strongly preferred.
4. A summary letter that captures the nominee's major achievements with reference to the 3 most important publications.
5. Three letters of support are required. Up to five letters of support are permitted. Self-nominees may not write letters of support for themselves; all letters of support must come from other people. Those submitting a nomination must provide names and current email addresses of people who have agreed to write letters of support. Each will receive further instructions from the AAS and a link for submitting their letter directly to the prize system. A given letter may add co-signers. Among other things, letters of support should explicitly address whether a nominee's professional conduct over their career exemplifies the principles and expectations noted in the AAS Code of Ethics, the Professional and Ethical Standards for the AAS Journals, the Anti-Harassment Policy for AAS & Division Meetings & Activities, and the Guide to AAS Meeting Etiquette. Nominators are asked to begin the nomination process well before the November 15 submission deadline so that letter writers receive notification and instructions as early as possible. Those who have agreed to write letters are encouraged to prepare them in advance so they can submit them promptly through the nomination portal soon after they receive the link.
6. Additional supporting materials, if any, should be submitted in Additional Comments in a single PDF file.
7. Prize nominations generally remain valid for a period of three years, including the original year in which the candidate was nominated, though an updated CV and a summary letter are encouraged. For example, a person's 2023 nomination package remains in effect for 2023, 2024, and 2025.

 

Harvey Prize

The SPD early career Karen Harvey Prize, established in May 2002 in honor of the late Karen Harvey, in recognition of 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. Extension of the eligibility period due to career interruption can be considered. 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.

The nomination should be endorsed by supporting letters, and a full CV including a list of publications. A link to an ADS library listing the nominee's publications is encouraged. Nominations for the Harvey prize must be updated every year with at minimum an updated CV and summary letter; other additional materials/updates are also encouraged. All materials should be submitted through this portal: https://aas.secure-platform.com/a/solicitations/159/home.

Nomination Checklist:

1. Verify eligibility by reading the description and reviewing the recipient list to confirm that your proposed candidate is eligible for the Harvey Prize and has not already received it. All prize requirements must be met at the time of nomination.
2. The candidate's/applicant's curriculum vitae (CV).
3. A bibliography of the candidate's published articles, preferably as an ADS library.
4. A summary letter that captures the nominee's major achievements with reference to 3 most important publications.
5. Three letters of support. Self-nominees may not write letters of support for themselves; all letters of support must come from other people. Please provide the names and current email addresses of the three people who have agreed to write letters of support. Each will receive further instructions from the AAS and a link for submitting their letter directly to the prize system. A given letter may include co-signers. Among other things, letters of support should explicitly address whether a nominee's professional conduct over their career exemplifies the principles and expectations noted in the AAS Code of Ethics, the Professional and Ethical Standards for the AAS Journals, the Anti-Harassment Policy for AAS & Division Meetings & Activities, and the Guide to AAS Meeting Etiquette. Nominators are asked to begin the nomination process well before the November 15 submission deadline so that letter writers receive notification and instructions as early as possible. Those who have agreed to write letters are encouraged to prepare them in advance so they can submit them promptly through the nomination portal soon after they receive the link.
6. The candidate's birth date and month/year of PhD.
7. Any additional supporting materials, if any, should be submitted in Additional Comments in a single PDF file.
8. Prize nominations can remain valid for a period of three years, including the original year in which the candidate was nominated, provided that an updated CV and summary letter are provided each year. For example, a person's 2023 nomination package remains in effect for 2023, 2024, and 2025. Note, however, that the three-year validity period may not apply to when a candidate becomes ineligible by exceeding the age and/or time-since-PhD limit(s). On the other hand, suspensions of career progress due to documented family or medical leave may be allowed as a factor in considering a person's eligibility for the Harvey Prize.

The Hale and Harvey Prize Committee retains the privilege of considering candidates for both prizes not proposed by above process. If a member of the Committee is nominated for one of the prizes, the nomination will be deferred for automatic consideration after the proposed individual has completed his/her term of duty on the Committee.

Hale and Harvey Prize Committee:

Tim Bastian 2019-2023 (Chair)
Jiong Qiu 2019-2023
Yuhong Fan 2021-2025
Sam Krucker 2021-2025
Laurel Rachmeler 2021-2025

---

Past Winners of the Hale Prize  

Links below lead to the Prize citations and, when available, electronic versions of the Prize Talks:

Past Winners of the Harvey Prize

Year	Winner
2003	D. Longcope
2004	H. Warren
2005	S. Gibson
2006	S. Cranmer
2007	J. Qiu
2008	M. Linton
2009	L. Gizon
2010	B. Welsch
2011	M. Rempel
2012	D. Nandy
2013	T. Torok
2014	A. Rouillard
2015	J. Cirtain
2016	K. Reeves
2017	M. Cheung
2018	N. Viall
2019	A. Yeates
2020	H. Tian
2021	L. Kleint
2022	A. Kowalski