International Bilateral Medals and Prizes
Our International Bilateral Medals and Prizes are made jointly with physical societies in Germany, France, Italy and Australia. They are designed to strengthen relationships between our institutions and acknowledge outstanding physicists who are pioneering research and physics applications across borders.
The International Bilateral Awards operate on a different timetable; please email us if you have any queries.
Max Born Medal and Prize
For outstanding contributions to physics by a physicist based in Germany or the UK/Ireland.
We present this award along with the German Physical Society. It was established in 1972 to commemorate German physicist Max Born who died in 1970.
About Max Born
Born played a key role in the evolution of quantum mechanics. He shared the 1954 Nobel Prize in Physics with Walther Bothe for his statistical interpretation of quantum theory.
About the medal
The medal is awarded in even-dated years to a physicist based in Germany and presented in the UK or Ireland. In odd-dated years, the award goes to a physicist based in the UK or Ireland and presented in Germany. The councils of each society take turns in selecting the winner from a list of nominees provided by the other.
The award consists of a silver medal and comes with a prize of €3,000 and a certificate.
View previous recipients of the Max Born Medal and Prize
Fernand Holweck Medal and Prize
For distinguished work in any area of physics by a physicist based in France or the UK/Ireland.
We present this award along with the French Physical Society. It was established in 1945 as a memorial to Fernand Holweck.
About Fernand Holweck
Holweck was Director of the Curie Laboratory of the Radium Institute in Paris and was tortured and killed by the Gestapo during the occupation of France from 1940 to 1944.
About the medal
The medal is awarded in odd-dated years to a physicist based in France and presented in the UK or Ireland. In even-dated years the award goes to a physicist based in the UK or Ireland and presented in France. The councils of each society take turns in selecting the winner from a list of nominees provided by the other. We consider nominations with the experimental interests of Holweck in mind.
The award consists of a gold medal presented by the Société Française de Physique, accompanied by a prize of €3,000.
View previous recipients of the Fernand Holweck Medal and Prize
Giuseppe Occhialini Medal and Prize
For distinguished work by a physicist based in Italy or the UK/Ireland.
We present this award along with the Italian Physical Society. It was established in 2007 in memory of Giuseppe Occhialini, marking the centenary of his birth.
The medal is awarded in even-dated years to a physicist in Italy and in odd-dated years to a physicist in the UK or Ireland. The councils of each society take turns in selecting the winner from a list of nominees provided by the other.
This medal comes with a prize of €3,000.
View previous recipients of the Giuseppe Occhialini Medal and Prize
Harrie Massey Medal and Prize
For contributions to physics or its applications by a physicist with an association to Australia or physics in Australia.
This award was set up by the Institute of Physics in 1988 to mark the 25th anniversary of the founding of the Australian Institute of Physics (AIP).
Awarded in even-dated years, the recipients of this award will usually have an association with Australia or physics in Australia. The IOP selects the winner from a list of nominees submitted by the AIP. Nominations are co-ordinated by the AIP.
This medal comes with a certificate.
View previous recipients of the Harrie Massey Medal and Prize