Early Career Physics Communicator Award
A prize for people at the beginning of their journey with physics, celebrating excellent communication. Entries now being accepted for the 2025 prize.
This prize is for people at the start of their journey with physics and physics-themed careers. We encourage all to apply for this and our ambition with this award is to support and encourage excellent communication and inspired engagement with physics themes.
As a special interest, member-driven group, the Physics Communicators Group promotes physics with networking, activities and public engagement. We aim to bring the physics communicators community together by supporting and promoting communication activities, sharing good communication practice, and offer opportunities to share information and resources.
Everyone’s engagement with physics is different, and those who work in physics communication are a diverse and broad range of people. We want to promote the sharing of best practice and celebrate the successes of our early career communicators.
How to enter
In up to 1,500 words, tell us what you think good physics communication is all about and your own communication success and achievements. We want to hear about your exploration of physics so far and how it has changed you or those around you.
Your submission should include:
- a brief statement of the stage of your academic physics work or study;
- a brief essay on what constitutes good practice in physics communication; and
- a case study of your communication activities undertaken to encourage others in physics/the understanding of physics.
From the shortlisted entries, we will select one to win the £250 top prize and certificate. The winner will present an award lecture online, with finalists given honorary mentions and all entrants invited to attend.
Criteria
Your participation with this award and event includes recognising the work of the winner and all entrants, and signals an intention to attend the award lecture online (expected to be Wednesday 2 April 2025 but to be confirmed).
To be nominated you will need to normally be resident in the UK or Ireland. You do not have to be a member of the IOP to apply for this award. Entrants should be 18 or older or submissions should be entered by a responsible adult on behalf of young people under the age of 18.
How to apply
Entries are now open for 2025 and the closing date for submissions is 23.59 on Friday 28 February 2025. Please email submissions to: [email protected].
The Physics Communicators Group will select a winner who will be contacted by Friday 14 March 2025 ahead of the award lecture online. Entrants are expected to be available to attend or present on the date of the lecture.
Previous winners
2024
Dr Ryan Edginton
University of Exeter. For their work in public engagement by physics research teams.
2021
Daisy Shearer
University of Surrey. For their work on neuroinclusion in physics, and communication of quantum physics topics in accessible ways.
2018
Lána Salmon
University College Dublin. For highlighting opportunities in Irish physics, and making physics more exciting and accessible.
2017
Jasmin Evans
University of Central Lancashire. For space science and astronomy outreach events with visually impaired children and adults.
2016
Niamh Kavanagh
University College Cork. For engaging wide audiences with physics.
2015
Dr Jessica Wade
For increasing recruitment and retention of women in science and outreach events for young women.