Nominations Are Now Open for 2027 AAS Prizes

Nominations for AAS prizes to be awarded in 2027 are now being accepted! We encourage members to nominate their colleagues — or themselves — for prizes that best fit their career stage and accomplishments. The prizes that the Society awards to its members are among the most visible and effective ways to recognize our members’ contributions and achievements, as well as contribute to their future success. Nominations are due 30 June. 

The AAS prizes for this cycle are the following:

• AAS Fellows
• Annie Jump Cannon Award
• Beatrice M. Tinsley Prize
• Chambliss Amateur Achievement Award
• Chambliss Astronomical Writing Award
• Dannie Heineman Prize for Astrophysics
• Education Prize
• George Van Biesbroeck Prize
• Helen B. Warner Prize for Astronomy
• Henry Norris Russell Lectureship
• Joseph Weber Award for Astronomical Instrumentation
• Newton Lacy Pierce Prize in Astronomy

Most prizes are awarded each year. The Beatrice M. Tinsley and George Van Biesbroeck Prizes are awarded every two years, with the Tinsley Prize offered this year, and the Van Biesbroeck Prize in the 2028 award year. Each year, the AAS considers nominations for a new class of AAS Fellows. While the nomination process is the same as for prizes, many details are different. The AAS Fellows page has all the details.

Each of these prizes was established and endowed by an individual or committee. The criteria, qualifications, and restrictions for each prize were set at the time that the AAS accepted the prize. As a result, prizes vary quite a bit as far as who is eligible, how the winner will be selected, and what the winner will receive with the prize. Be sure to read the prize description carefully before submitting a nomination.

Self-nominations are accepted for all prizes. We use the OpenWater prize portal to manage the submission of nominations, acknowledgments, and review by the prize selection committees. The system withholds the identity of the nominator from the prize committee — so that self-nominations and nominations by someone else receive the same treatment.

This year the information available to nominators, nominees, and letter writers has been extensively re-organized, though the process itself has barely changed. We hope this will make the process clearer for everyone! The pages listed above are the main source of information on specific prizes. OpenWater manages only the forms themselves; all information for a specific prize is on the page linked from the AAS prizes home page. The portal sends out emails with instructions and links for each step of the process.

Instructions for submitting nominations are on the Nominate page. You must be a member in order to nominate (except for the Chambliss Amateur Achievement Award). A prize nomination comprises three parts. For a nomination to be considered, all three parts must be complete by the published deadlines. Some prizes have different or additional requirements. Be sure to check the Nominate page for these. Please start the process in the OpenWater nomination portal early — late nominations will not be considered.

1. Nomination
   This is the responsibility of the Nominator, who initiates the process. The deadline is 30 June.
2. Nominee package
   The Nominee must complete the requested package, which includes a CV, bibliography, and AAS Professional Ethics Self Disclosure Form. The deadline is 15 July.
3. Letters of Support
   On the nomination form, the Nominator selects three people familiar with the Nominee’s work to serve as Letter Writers in support of the Nominee. The deadline for receiving all three letters is 15 July.

Nominators and nominees are expected to be familiar with the criteria, eligibility requirements, and deadlines. In particular, the nominator must verify — not assume — that people they ask to write letters of support will actually do so by the deadline.

Prize nomination tip: Collect all the information you will need for completing the nomination before you go to the nomination portal to begin the submission process. If you have all the required documents and information ready, the actual nomination can be completed in less than 10 minutes. 

The deadline for submitting nominations is 30 June.

If you run into problems using the online nomination form, don’t hesitate to ask for help — the AAS Secretary can quickly address most issues. If you email for help, please be as clear and concise as possible, and include the prize name in the subject line. Nomination materials will not be accepted via email. To be considered, all materials must go through the OpenWater nomination portal to be assigned to the appropriate nomination and review. Don’t wait until the deadline to find you have a problem. We will not hold up the review process for latecomers!