Nominations for AAS Honors, Prizes, and Awards for 2021 Are Now Open
Alice Monet US Naval Obs. (retired); AAS Secretary
The 2021 AAS prize cycle is now under way, and we’ve introduced an entirely new nomination system. Here’s the scoop:
Nominations for AAS Fellows and all Society awards and prizes with a 30 June deadline (now extended to 14 July due to delays related to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic) must be submitted online using our new portal on the OpenWater Awards website. With OpenWater we have an integrated system that makes submitting nominations easier for you, receiving nominations easier for us, and evaluating nominations easier for our prize committees. We link to OpenWater from the Prize Nominations page on the AAS website. We’ve moved most of the details about our honors, prizes, and awards — including eligibility requirements, lists of nominating materials, and a description of the nominating process — to OpenWater.
Clicking the link to OpenWater will take you to a login page. If you’re a member, log in using your usual AAS credentials. If you’re not a member, you’ll be asked to register on the OpenWater site, after which you can log in. Once logged in, you’ll be able to navigate to the main AAS Prize Nominations page and to the pages for each honor, prize, or award.
To make this process go as easily and smoothly as possible, please collect all the required documents and information before you log in to the OpenWater Awards site to submit a nomination. Be sure to confirm in advance that everyone you list as writing a letter of support is in fact willing to do so. They will be asked to verify that they’ll send a letter and will be given a link where they can upload it.
This new nomination process is being rolled out this year for the first time, so it’s new for everyone. The forms have been set up with care and have been thoroughly tested, but there may still be a few glitches. A contact/help link is provided, and we welcome your feedback.
The success of our Society’s prize program depends on members taking the time to submit nominations. All members are encouraged to nominate worthy colleagues or themselves for recognition by the AAS. It is not only the monetary prize but also the honor and distinction that can mean so much for an astronomer's career. A prize also adds luster to the recipient's department and/or institution in the eyes of the academic and scientific communities.
The AAS specifically encourages nominations of, and self-nominations from, astronomers who are members of marginalized groups, including people of color, people with disabilities, and sexual and gender minorities.
Nominations for 2021 honors, awards, and prizes will be accepted through 30 June 14 July 2020.