The outputs from scientific research are many and varied, including research articles reporting new knowledge, data, reagents, and software; intellectual property; and highly trained young scientists. Nomination packages should document the impact and quality of the candidate’s research, scholarship and/or innovation.
Nomination Procedures for CAP Medals
Nominations must be submitted using the CAP’s online nomination submission process.
- CAP members can submit nominations by logging in to member services from https://www.cap.ca or https://crm.cap.ca and selecting “Medal/Scholarship System” under the heading CAP Services.
- Non-CAP members (CRM Prize) or non-CAP-COMP joint members (Kirkby Medal) who wish to submit a nomination should select the access page for non-member nominations.
Although the CAP’s nomination system currently has an English-only interface, nominations may be submitted in either English or French. The CAP is committed to ensuring that applications submitted in either official language are treated equitably. Furthermore, the CAP commits to ensuring that those evaluating awards will have a thorough understanding of the impact of bias to take it into account while reviewing nominations. Click here to view the CAP’s full EDI statement.
Supporting documents must be submitted as PDF files.
Any questions regarding the nomination process should be sent to programs@cap.ca
Nomination Packages
Unless otherwise noted, a complete application for any of the CAP medals consists of:
- The nomination form, and a supporting letter from the nominator describing and commenting on the evidence.
- A curriculum vitae for the nominee of 20 pages maximum, including a list of awards, grants, and other evidence of significant impact on the field. Should the c.v. include a list of publications, the focus should be on the scientific content of the published papers, thereby strengthening the nomination by providing more than simply the publication metrics or the identity of the journals in which they are published.
- A c.v. for the Peter Kirkby Medal has a maximum of 5 pages and should not include a list of research publications.
- A short summary (750 words or less) of the candidate’s significant contributions to physics which support the intent of the medal.
- This summary is not required for the Medal for Undergraduate Teaching.
- Three letters from referees with recognized expertise in the candidate’s field. Letters should particularly address the quality, originality, and significance of the candidate’s work.
- References for the Peter Kirkby Medal should be from those who have observed significant commitment to service to the Canadian physics community by the nominee
- For the Medal for Undergraduate Teaching, the package should include three letters of support from students, colleagues, or others who have a close familiarity with the candidate’s contributions to teaching. Letters should particularly address the quality, originality, and significance of the candidate’s achievements in teaching.
- A description (1500 words or less) of the significance and impact of up to five (5) important contributions by the nominee related to the work for which they are being nominated.
- For the Medal for Undergraduate Teaching, the description should focus on the candidate’s significant contributions to teaching in physics, or closely related fields such as astronomy or biophysics.
- A citation of 300 words or less is suitable for publication if the nominee is selected as the medal recipient. NOTE: the published announcement will start with a paragraph of 25-50 words explaining the reason why the candidate was selected provided by the chair of the medal selection committee so the citation provided by the nominator should focus on the description of the nominee’s work. The citation must be submitted in plain text format using cut and paste into the online nomination form.
Nominations are valid for three (3) nomination cycles.
Upon submission, and each year of the remaining two years of the cycle, nominators MUST verify/validate that the nomination package is complete and up-to-date for the nomination to be submitted to the selection committee for consideration.
All medals will be awarded on an annual basis, except for the following which are awarded bi-annually:
- The CAP-INO medal will be awarded every second year (even years); NOTE: 2022 will be the last year of the award for the CAP-INO medal.
- The CAP Industrial and Applied Physics medal will be awarded every second year (odd years).
- The CAP-COMP Peter Kirkby medal will be awarded every second year (on even years).
The selection of the recipients for each of the CAP Medals will be made by committee(s) struck by the CAP Nominations and Awards Committee.
Under normal circumstances, each medal recipient will be invited to give a plenary talk during the CAP Congress, with the medals presented by the President of the CAP during the Congress Medalists and Fellows Recognition Dinner. During any year when this is not possible, the medal recipients will be invited to give a talk during a virtual Medals Day and the medals will be shipped to them.
As the CAP-COMP Peter Kirkby Medal is awarded for service to the physics community, the recipient does not normally give a plenary talk but is awarded their medal during the recognition dinner and invited to say a few words at that time.