IOP Awards

The IOP Awards celebrate excellence in physics. We know that excellence is everywhere. It’s in physics research, education, outreach and application; in people at all stages of their careers; in all parts of the UK, Ireland and internationally.

The IOP Awards proudly reflect the wide variety of people, places, organisations and achievements that make physics such an exciting discipline.

Nominations

The IOP Awards celebrate exceptional achievements by individuals and teams in all aspects of physics, from pure research to the work of teachers, apprentices, and technicians as well as those working in business and industry.

They celebrate people at every stage of their career, from those just starting out through to those at their peak. They also recognise and celebrate companies which are successful in the application of physics and innovation, as well as employers that demonstrate their commitment and contribution to scientific and engineering apprenticeship schemes.

In the 2021 IOP Awards, we asked all nominees to submit equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) information along with their nomination to help us to continue to develop our Awards each year and ensure they include the whole physics community. Our Awards have long celebrated excellence in physics and to continue to do this we must ensure that everyone has an equitable chance of being recognised for their achievements.

As part of this commitment, we have made available data from all our past Awards.

The winners are decided by different committees and judging panels, which are each chaired by a Council Trustee. View lists of all of these committees and judging panels.

If you’ve got a question about the IOP Awards, you can get in touch with us at [email protected].

Awards celebration and prizes

We will announce the winners in the autumn, when they will receive their Award, prize and certificate.

We normally also celebrate the extraordinary achievements of our Award winners at an annual Awards celebration, however due to the ongoing impact of COVID-19 we won’t be hosting an in-person event this year and are keeping our celebrations under review.

The 2021 IOP Awards have now closed for nominations. Further information will be provided on the 2022 IOP Awards in due course.

The IOP Awards

President's Medal

Made on the recommendation of our president, this medal is for both physicists and non-physicists who have contributed to physics in general and the IOP in particular.

Find out more about the President’s Medal

Isaac Newton Medal and Prize

The Isaac Newton Medal and Prize is for world-leading contributions to physics by an individual of any nationality.

Find out more about the Isaac Newton Medal and Prize

Gold Medals

Our six Gold Medals and Prizes recognise outstanding and sustained contributions of international renown to physics.

Find out more about the Gold Medals and Prizes

Silver Subject Medals

Our Silver Subject Medals and Prizes recognise distinguished contributions to physics.

Find out more about the Silver Subject Medals

Bronze Early Career Medals

Our Bronze Early Career Medals and Prizes recognise exceptional early career contributions to physics.

Find out more about the Bronze Early Career Medals

Phillips Award

The Phillips Award is for distinguished service to the IOP.

Find out more about the Phillips Award

Physics teachers play a major role in encouraging children to study physics further.

Teachers of Physics Award

The Teachers of Physics Award celebrates the success of secondary school physics teachers who have raised the profile of physics and science in schools.

Find out more about the Teachers of Physics Award

Honorary Fellowship

The Honorary Fellowship is the highest accolade presented by the IOP to reflect an individual’s exceptional service to physics.

Find out more about our Honorary Fellows

Business Awards

Our Business Awards recognise companies across all sectors and at all stages – from start-ups to multi-national corporations – that have excelled in innovation and the application of physics.

Find out more about the Business Awards

Apprentices are employed in the workplace during their studies.

Technical Skills Awards

The Technical Skills Awards celebrate the contributions that technicians and apprentices make to physics, and recognise employers that demonstrate their commitment and contribution to scientific and engineering apprenticeship schemes.

Find out more about the Technical Skills Awards

International Bilateral Awards

Our International Bilateral Awards are made jointly with physical societies in Germany, France, Italy and Australia.

These aren’t currently open for nominations at this time, but you can find out more

Meet the winners

IOP award winners from previous years explain the impact the accolade has had on them and their prospects.

IOP Ireland Awards

The awards build and reinforce a sense of community by recognising and rewarding excellence in individuals and teams and their contribution to physics.