NOTE: The nomination system has been reopened for 2023 nominations. The deadline for submissions of nominations for 2023 medals is February 28th, HS Teacher awards are June 12th, and graduate scholarships are September 15th. |
Congratulations to our 2022 Medal recipients! Medal Talk Day(s) will be held in January. Details here.
Each year the CAP recognizes excellence in Research, Teaching, and Service in physics within Canada, as listed below. We offer awards to established researchers, enterprising students, promising scientists, and exceptional teachers. Click the links below or to the left to find out more about our various awards and prizes!
CALL FOR NOMINATIONS 2023 ANNOUNCEMENT
Following the new strategic plan for the CAP, the Medals and Awards communications and processes are being reviewed and updated to celebrate our values of excellence and professionalism, equity, diversity and inclusion, and collegiality and mentorship. Read the full announcement here.
In early 2022, the CAP undertook an EDI review of our award nomination and selection guidelines and procedures in advance of the call for 2022 medal, award, and scholarship candidates. When the call for nominations is launched in 2023, we hope that our membership will help us by putting forward nominations that reflect the diverse excellence of our physics community.
Click here to go to the medal nomination system. |
The call for nominations will be issued on December 23rd.
The deadline for all medal nominations is February 28th, 2023.
Visit individual medal pages to view information regarding descriptions, criteria, and deadlines.
Medals For Research
CAP Medal for Lifetime Achievement in Physics (awarded annually)
Awarded on the basis of: significant contributions to physics over an extended period of time, and/or; recent significant achievement. |
Deadline: February 28th, 2023 |
CAP Herzberg Medal (awarded annually)
This medal is to recognize significant contributions in any field of research by a Canadian physicist who has successfully defended their doctoral thesis within the last 12 years. |
Deadline: February 28th, 2023 |
CAP-CRM Prize in Theoretical and Mathematical Physics (awarded annually)
The objective of this award is to recognize research excellence in the fields of theoretical and mathematical physics. |
Deadline: February 28th, 2023 |
CAP/DCMMP Brockhouse Medal (awarded annually)
The purpose of this award is to recognize and encourage significant experimental or theoretical contributions to condensed matter and materials physics. |
Deadline: February 28th, 2023 |
CAP-TRIUMF Vogt Medal in Subatomic Physics (awarded annually)
The purpose of this award is to recognize and encourage outstanding experimental or theoretical contributions to subatomic physics. |
Deadline: February 28th, 2023 |
Medals for Applied Physics and Research
CAP Medal for Outstanding Achievement in Industrial and Applied Physics (awarded on odd years)
This medal is intended to recognize and promote the creativity of scientists working in Canada in the area of industrial and applied physics, and to particularly recognize the successful application of physical principles to the creation of practical innovations, as demonstrated (for example) by novel/commercializable products or processes, and/or patents. |
Deadline: February 28th, 2023 |
Medals for Service
CAP-COMP Peter Kirkby Memorial Medal for Outstanding Service to Canadian Physics (awarded on odd years)
The medal is intended to recognize service to the physics community by strengthening the Canadian physics community, by enhancing the profession of physical scientists, by effectively communicating physics to the non-scientific community, or by making physics more attractive as a career. |
Deadline: February 28th, 2023 |
Medals/Awards for Teaching
CAP Award for Excellence in Teaching High-school/CEGEP Physics (5 regional prizes awarded annually)
This award is intended to recognize excellence in teaching physics in Canadian high schools or CEGEPs and to encourage and promote physics at the high school/CEGEP level in Canada. |
Deadline: June 12th, 2023 |
CAP Medal for Excellence in Teaching Undergraduate Physics (awarded annually)
The CAP Medal for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching is to honour faculty members who possess an ability to communicate their knowledge and understanding in such a way as to lead their students to high academic achievement in physics. |
Deadline: February 28th, 2023 |
University/Graduate Student Awards and Scholarships
Eric Svensson Memorial Graduate Scholarship (awarded bi-annually)
Awarded to a graduate student who has demonstrated both research excellence and significant service to the physics (CAP) community. |
Deadline: September 15, 2023 |
Allan Carswell Physics Educator Scholarship (awarded annually)
This scholarship recognizes the critical importance and value of having people who are trained in, and passionate about, physics engaging young Canadians in the classrooms of this country. |
Deadline: September 15, 2023 |
Boris P. Stoicheff Memorial Graduate Scholarship (awarded annually)
Awarded to a graduate student who has demonstrated both research excellence and significant service to the optics (The Optica Foundation) or physics (CAP) community |
Awarded by Optica Foundation in 2023 |
CAP Best Student Paper Awards (awarded annually)
CAP provides awards for the best student papers and posters delivered at Congress, if a student specifically indicates that they want to participate in the competition. |
Deadline: TBD |
DAMOPC PhD Thesis Prize (awarded bi-annually)
The Division awards a biennial PhD thesis prize in atomic, molecular, and optical physics. |
Deadline: TBD |
DNP PhD Thesis Prize (awarded annually)
The Division awards a biennial PhD thesis prize in nuclear physics. |
Deadline: TBD |
Lloyd G. Elliot University Prize Exam (annual competition)
A national competition open to students across the country who are studying physics and are enrolled in an undergraduate program at the time of the examination. |
Deadline: TBD |
PPD PhD Thesis Award (awarded annually)
Awarded to a student who has received a Ph.D. degree in Experimental or Phenomenological Particle Physics from a Canadian University in the current calendar year. |
Deadline: TBD |
DCMMP PhD Thesis Award Competition (awarded annually)
Open to condensed matter and materials physics graduates from Canadian universities who have defended their first PhD thesis in current calendar year. |
Deadline: TBD |
DTP/WITP PhD Thesis Prize (awarded annually)
Awarded to student receiving a PhD degree in Physics from a Canadian University. |
Deadline: TBD |
High-school/CEGEP Student Awards and Prizes
High-school/CEGEP Prize Examination (annual competition)
Based upon an internationally recognized syllabus, the I.B. Physics Higher Core Curriculum. Only sections of the syllabus covering mechanics, Optics and Electricity and Magnetism are examined by the CAP Exam. Since all provinces in Canada have different curricula and the level of physics taught varies widely, the exam uses a broad based core curriculum which is widely recognized and used throughout the world. |
Exam Date: April 5th 2023 |
Art of Physics (annual competition)
The aim of the competition is to stimulate interest, especially among non-scientists, in some of the captivating imagery associated with physics. |
Deadline: TBD |
Canada-Wide Science Fair (annual competition)
The Canada Wide Science Fair (CWSF) brings science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) out of the classroom – engaging youth in STEM solutions to real world issues. |
Visit the CWSF website for more information |