Group Prize - The Early Career Physics Communicator Award

The IOP Physics Communicators Group invites applications from people at the start of their careers in physics who have undertaken activities that support and encourage excellent communication of physics. The prize is called "The Early Career Physics Communicator Award", and is offered annually.

The winner of the 2012 Prize was Ben Still, a particle physics research associate at Queen Mary, London. There were three other very strong shortlisted finalists: Andrew Steele (condensed matter, Oxford), Evelyn Johnston (physics and astronomy, Nottingham) and Julian Stirling (physics and astronomy, Nottingham).

The four shortlisted candidates were invited to an open awards ceremony event on 20th November 2012 at the Institute of Physics in London where they all delivered short talks describing their communication activities.  

The judges, Prof. Jim Al-Khalili (academic and TV broadcaster) and Clare Thomson (IOP curriculum and diversity manager), were impressed by all the finalists, choosing Ben as the overall winner for the consistently high standard and wide variety of activities that he has undertaken over the past couple of years.

The 2012 winner, Ben Still, speaks here of his passion for physics communication:

A written review of the 2011 awards ceremony is available here (PDF, 213 KB), and a video of the 2011 Award Meeting can be viewed at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0nruBvx5WCg.

The terms of the Group Award are as follows:

The “Early Career Physics Communicator Award” seeks to recognise excellence in communication skills of physicists who are at the beginning of a career in physics.

Eligibility

Applicants do not need to be a member of the IOP, but should be one of the following:

  • An undergraduate physicist
  • A person involved in appropriate postgraduate study within a few years of a degree qualification (not more than five years)
  • A person working as a physicist in UK or Eire within the first five years of their physics career.

The Prize

The winner will receive £250 and an award certificate at an IOP Physics Communicators Group event in November. As well as providing recognition of the winner's work through the prize money, the process will also facilitate networking opportunities for all participants.

Application

Applicants should submit a report of their communication activities which should be no more than 1500 words long.

The report should be accompanied by the applicant’s CV and include:

  • brief details of their academic physics work or study;
  • evidence of communication activities undertaken to encourage others in physics appreciation or the general understanding of physics;
  • the names and contact details of two referees with close knowledge of the applicants work and/or their communication activities.

Submissions for the 2013 Award need to be sent to the Group Secretary by 7th October 2013 using the official application form (Word, 48 KB).

References will only be taken up for those who are short-listed.

This year’s award ceremony will take place on 26th November 2013.

Please note:

  • Any person wishing to nominate another for the prize must enclose the written consent of the nominee.
  • At the award ceremony those shortlisted will be expected to give a short presentation (no more than 10 minutes) after which the winner will be announced.
  • Shortlisted candidates must be prepared to be interviewed by the IOP and appear on IOP websites and within IOP publications.