List of academic awards


This list of academic awards is an index to articles about notable awards given for academic contributions. It does not include professorships, fellowships or student awards other than awards to students who have made an original contribution to an academic field. The country of the institution granting the award is given, but many awards are open to people from around the world.

International

CountryAwardSponsorDescription
InternationalBreakthrough Prize in Fundamental PhysicsBreakthrough PrizeTransformative advances in fundamental physics
InternationalBreakthrough Prize in Life SciencesBreakthrough PrizeResearch aimed at curing intractable diseases and extending human life
InternationalBreakthrough Prize in MathematicsBreakthrough PrizeMathematics
InternationalDijkstra PrizeSymposium on Principles of Distributed Computing, International Symposium on Distributed ComputingOutstanding papers on the principles of distributed computing
InternationalEbbe Nielsen ChallengeGlobal Biodiversity Information FacilitySoftware or approaches that successfully address a GBIF-issued challenge in the field of biodiversity informatics
InternationalEbbe Nielsen PrizeGlobal Biodiversity Information FacilitySubstantial contributions to the field of biodiversity informatics
InternationalFields MedalInternational Mathematical UnionOutstanding contributions in mathematics attributed to young scientists. See also List of Fields Medal winners by university affiliation
InternationalHenri Poincaré PrizeInternational Association of Mathematical PhysicsOutstanding contributions in mathematical physics, and contributions which lay the groundwork for novel developments in this broad field
InternationalICTP PrizeInternational Centre for Theoretical PhysicsYoung physicist or mathematician from a developing country to promote theoretical mathematics and physics research in the developing world
InternationalMustafa PrizeOrganisation of Islamic CooperationTop researchers and scientists
InternationalPrize for Innovation in Distributed ComputingInternational Colloquium on Structural Information and Communication ComplexityMajor contribution to understanding the relationships between information and efficiency in decentralized computing

Africa

CountryAwardSponsorDescription
NigeriaNigeria Prize for ScienceNigeria LNGExcellence in science breakthroughs
South AfricaHavenga prizeSuid-Afrikaanse Akademie vir Wetenskap en KunsOriginal research in the sciences

Americas

CountryAwardSponsorDescription
BrazilPrêmio Almirante Álavaro AlbertoNational Council for Scientific and Technological DevelopmentBrazilian researchers for their career's work advancing the progress of science, and knowledge transfer from academia to the productive sector
CanadaChanchlani Global Health Research AwardMcMaster UniversityLeading scholar in the area of Global Health
CanadaCNIB Chanchlani Global Vision Research AwardCNIB Foundation etc.Vision scientists around the world who have made a major, original contribution for advancement in understanding the causes of blindness and vision loss, as well as potential cures, treatments and preventions
CanadaCPA Donald O. Hebb Award for Distinguished Contributions to Psychology as a ScienceCanadian Psychological AssociationIndividual who has made a significant contribution to Canadian psychology as a scientific discipline
CanadaDufferin MedalLord DufferinCanadian students and athletes who had achieved high excellence in academics and athletics
CanadaFred P. Lossing AwardCanadian Society for Mass SpectrometryDistinguished Canadian mass spectrometrist
ChileJorge Millas AwardAustral University of ChileAcademic merit
MexicoPremio México de Ciencia y TecnologíaConsejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología Ibero-American scholars in recognition of advances in science and/or technology
United States and CanadaWilliam Riley Parker PrizeModern Language AssociationOutstanding article published in PMLA, the association's primary journal
United StatesAndrew Heiskell AwardInstitute of International EducationOutstanding initiative conducted in international higher education by universities and colleges under IIE network
United StatesBailey Distinguished Member AwardThe Clay Minerals SocietyScientific eminence in clay mineralogy as evidenced by the publication of outstanding original scientific research and by the impact of this research on the clay sciences
United StatesBanting MedalAmerican Diabetes AssociationOriginal, sustained and reproducible scholarship that has made major contributions to the understanding of diabetes, its treatment and/or prevention
United StatesBerggruen PrizeBerggruen InstituteThinkers whose ideas have helped us find direction, wisdom, and improved self-understanding in a world being rapidly transformed by profound social, technological, political, cultural, and economic change
United StatesBiemann MedalAmerican Society for Mass SpectrometryAn individual early in his or her career in recognition of significant achievement in basic or applied mass spectrometry
United StatesCharles E. Merriam Award for Outstanding Public Policy ResearchUniversity of Illinois at Urbana–ChampaignOutstanding public policy research
United StatesClark Kerr AwardUniversity of California, BerkeleyExtraordinary and distinguished contribution to the advancement of higher education
United StatesClay Research AwardClay Mathematics InstituteTo mathematicians to recognize their achievement in mathematical research
United StatesCornplanter MedalCayuga County Historical SocietyScholastic and other contributions to the betterment of knowledge of the Iroquois people
United StatesEdwin H. Land MedalThe Optical Society, Society for Imaging Science and TechnologyPioneering work empowered by scientific research to create inventions, technologies, and products in optics and imaging
United StatesFeynman Prize in NanotechnologyForesight InstituteSignificant advances in nanotechnology
United StatesFrank PrizeUniversity of FloridaResearch that advances public interest communications around positive social change, including issues such as education, health, politics, and the environment
United StatesGeorge L. Mosse PrizeAmerican Historical AssociationOutstanding major work of extraordinary scholarly distinction, creativity, and originality in the intellectual and cultural history of Europe since 1500
United StatesGildersleeve PrizeJohns Hopkins University PressBest article of the year published in the American Journal of Philology
United StatesHaskins MedalMedieval Academy of AmericaDistinguished book in the field of medieval studies
United StatesHattendorf PrizeNaval War CollegeDistinguished academic achievement in publishing original research that contributes to a deeper historical understanding of the broad context and interrelationships involved in the roles, contributions, limitations, and uses of the sea services in history
United StatesHeroes of ChemistryAmerican Chemical SocietyTeams responsible for creation of innovative and impactful products based on chemistry and chemical engineering
United StatesHoward R. Marraro PrizeModern Language AssociationScholarly work on Italian literature or comparative Italian literature
United StatesIEEE Edison MedalInstitute of Electrical and Electronics EngineersMeritorious achievement in electrical science, electrical engineering or the electrical arts
United StatesIEEE Medal of HonorInstitute of Electrical and Electronics EngineersExceptional contribution or an extraordinary career in the IEEE fields of interest
United StatesIJCAI Computers and Thought AwardInternational Joint Conference on Artificial IntelligenceOutstanding young scientists in artificial intelligence
United StatesISCB FellowInternational Society for Computational BiologyOutstanding contributions to the fields of computational biology and bioinformatics
United StatesJ. C. Harrington AwardSociety for Historical ArchaeologyLife-time of contributions to the discipline centered on scholarship
United StatesJ. Russell Major PrizeAmerican Historical AssociationBook by a historian
United StatesJames Russell Lowell PrizeModern Language AssociationOutstanding literary or linguistic study, a critical edition of an important work, or a critical biography
United StatesJohn Addison Porter PrizeYale UniversityScholarship in any field where it is possible, through original effort, to gather and relate facts or principles, or both, and to present the results in such a literary form as to make the product of general human interest
United StatesKenneth Harwood Outstanding Dissertation AwardBroadcast Education AssociationBest doctoral dissertation in field of broadcasting and electronic media
United StatesKenneth W. Mildenberger PrizeModern Language AssociationLanguage translator
United StatesLarry Sandler Memorial AwardDrosophila Research ConferenceBest dissertation of the preceding year
United StatesLeonard D. White AwardUniversity of ChicagoBest dissertation in the field of public administration
United StatesMIT150The Boston GlobeThe most significant innovators, inventions, or ideas from MIT, MIT alumni, and other MIT-related people and organizations
United StatesMassry PrizeMeira and Shaul G. Massry FoundationSubstantial recent contributions in the biomedical sciences
United StatesMatei Calinescu PrizeModern Language AssociationDistinguished work of scholarship in twentieth- or twenty-first-century literature and thought
United StatesMcClintock PrizeMaize Genetics Executive CommitteeStudy of plant genome structure, function and evolution, including the analysis of gene regulation and epigenetics
United StatesMember of the National Academy of SciencesNational Academy of SciencesDistinguished and continuing achievements in original research
United StatesMichael Brin Prize in Dynamical SystemsUniversity of Maryland, College Park etc.Outstanding work in the theory of dynamical systems and related areas
United StatesMiriam Braverman Memorial PrizeProgressive Librarians GuildBest graduate student paper about some aspect of the social responsibilities of librarians, libraries, or librarianship
United StatesMorton N. Cohen AwardModern Language AssociationImportant collections of letters
United StatesNiels Lassen AwardInternational Society for Cerebral Blood Flow and MetabolismOutstanding scientific contribution made by an early career scientist
United StatesPROSE AwardsAssociation of American PublishersBest in professional and scholarly publishing
United StatesPaul Birdsall PrizeAmerican Historical AssociationBook in English by a historian. Preference given to early-career academics.
United StatesPhyllis Franklin AwardModern Language AssociationPerson who has fostered public support for the humanities through speaking, writing, policy making, or other activities
United StatesPioneer Award in NanotechnologyInstitute of Electrical and Electronics EngineersIndividuals who by virtue of initiating new areas of research, development or engineering have had a significant impact on the field of nanotechnology
United StatesRowman & Littlefield Award in Innovative TeachingAmerican Political Science AssociationDevelopers of effective new approaches to teaching among political scientists
United StatesRuth Shonle Cavan Young Scholar AwardAmerican Society of CriminologyResearcher who has made outstanding contributions to the discipline of criminology, and who has received his or her Ph.D., M.D., or other graduate degree no more than five years before receiving the award
United StatesSIAM FellowSociety for Industrial and Applied MathematicsSIAM members who are recognized by their peers as distinguished for their contributions to the discipline
United StatesSIGCSE Award for Lifetime Service to the Computer Science Education CommunityAssociation for Computing Machinery: SIGCSELifetime contributions to computer science education
United StatesSIGCSE Award for Outstanding Contribution to Computer Science EducationAssociation for Computing Machinery: SIGCSESignificant contribution to computer science education
United StatesSilvert AwardLatin American Studies AssociationSenior members of the profession who have made distinguished lifetime contributions to the study of Latin America
United StatesStefan Bergman PrizeAmerican Mathematical SocietyMathematical research in the theory of the kernel function and its applications in real and complex analysis; or function-theoretic methods in the theory of partial differential equations of elliptic type with attention to Bergman's operator method.
United StatesTroland Research AwardsNational Academy of SciencesPsychological research on the relationship between consciousness and the physical world
United StatesWesley Logan PrizeAssociation for the Study of African American Life and HistoryOutstanding book in African diaspora history
United StatesWilbur Cross MedalYale Graduate School Alumni AssociationDistinguished achievements in scholarship, teaching, academic administration, and public service
United StatesWilliam Gilbert AwardAmerican Geophysical UnionOutstanding and unselfish work in magnetism of Earth materials and of the Earth and planets

Asia

CountryAwardSponsorDescription
Hong KongYidan PrizeYidan Prize FoundationTwo individuals or organizations whose work has made contributions to education research and development
IndiaFaculty Research AwardsCareers360, Minister of Human Resource DevelopmentAcademic and research output in Scopus indexed journals, citation index and h-index
IndiaVASVIK Industrial Research AwardVividhlaxi Audyogik Samshodhan Vikas Kendra Excellence in industrial research in the areas of science and technology
JapanAsahi PrizeAsahi ShimbunAchievement in science or arts that has made a great contribution to culture or society
JapanFukuoka PrizeFukuoka City International FoundationOutstanding individuals or groups/organizations in preserving and creating the unique and diverse cultures of Asia
JapanHideyo Noguchi Africa PrizeJapan International Cooperation AgencyOutstanding achievements in the fields of medical research and medical services to combat infectious and other diseases in Africa
JapanInternational Prize for BiologyJapan Society for the Promotion of ScienceOutstanding contribution to the advancement of research in fundamental biology
JapanJapan PrizeJapan Prize FoundationOriginal and outstanding achievements in science and technology that are recognized as having advanced the frontiers of knowledge and having served the cause of peace and prosperity for mankind
JapanKyoto PrizeInamori FoundationKyoto Prize in Advanced Technology
Kyoto Prize in Arts and Philosophy
Kyoto Prize in Basic Sciences
JapanNishina Memorial PrizeNishina Memorial FoundationYoung scientists who have made substantial contributions in the field of atomic and sub-atomic physics research
JapanPraemium ImperialeFujisankei Communications GroupOutstanding contributions to the development, promotion and progress of the arts
TaiwanTang PrizeTang Prize FoundationOutstanding contributions in sustainable development, biopharmaceutical science, sinology, and rule of law
ThailandDushdi Mala MedalMonarch of ThailandDistinguished services in the domains of the arts and sciences

Europe

CountryAwardSponsorDescription
AustriaFrancis Stephen AwardÖsterreichische Gesellschaft zur Erforschung des 18. JahrhundertsResearchers in the humanities and social sciences
DenmarkRigmor and Carl Holst-Knudsen Award for Scientific ResearchAarhus UniversityMark of respect to a researcher who has produced one or more significant results which show promise in future research
EuropeMember of the Academia EuropaeaAcademia EuropaeaSustained academic excellence
EuropeSchwäbisch Gmünd PrizeEuropean Academy of Surface TechnologyEarly career researcher active in Europe on the grounds of originality, creativity and excellence in surface technology
EuropeStein Rokkan Prize for Comparative Social Science ResearchInternational Science Council, University of Bergen, European Consortium for Political ResearchSubstantial and original contribution in comparative social science research
FrancePrix GilesAcadémie des Inscriptions et Belles-LettresWork related to China, Japan or East Asia that was published by a French author
FrancePrix NapoleonFondation NapoléonBest non-Francophone historical work on the First Napoleonic Empire
FrancePrix Stanislas JulienAcadémie des Inscriptions et Belles-LettresSinological work published in the previous year
FranceSocial Choice and Welfare PrizeSociety for Social Choice and WelfareYoung scholars, under the age of 40, in the areas of social choice theory and welfare economics
Germany / United KingdomFeldberg Foundation PrizeFeldberg FoundationExperimental medical research, in particular in physiology, pharmacology and related topics
GermanyCarl Friedrich Gauss Prize International Mathematical Union, German Mathematical SocietyOutstanding mathematical contributions that have found significant applications outside of mathematics
GermanyLudwig Prandtl RingDeutsche Gesellschaft für Luft- und RaumfahrtOutstanding contribution in the field of aerospace engineering
GermanyOtto Hahn MedalMax Planck SocietyOutstanding scientific achievement by junior scientists
GermanyPrize for Military HistoryFederal Ministry of DefenceAchievements in the fields of military history and history of military technology
GermanyRichard von Mises PrizeGesellschaft für Angewandte Mathematik und MechanikOutstanding scientific achievements in the field of Applied Mathematics and Mechanics
IrelandCunningham MedalRoyal Irish AcademyOutstanding contributions to scholarship and the objectives of the Academy
ItalyENI awardEniOutstanding contributions in new frontiers in hydrocarbons, renewable and non-conventional energy, protection of the environment
NetherlandsMultatuli PrizeAmsterdam Fund for the ArtsExemplary writing in th Dutch language
NorwayAbel PrizeKing of NorwayOutstanding scientific work in the field of mathematics
NorwayGunnerus MedalRoyal Norwegian Society of Sciences and LettersOutstanding technical-scientific or other scientific work or benefits to the Science Society
NorwayOnsager MedalNorwegian University of Science and TechnologyResearchers in one or more subject areas of chemistry, physics or mathematics
NorwaySverdrup PrizeNorwegian Statistical AssociationEminent representative of the statistics profession; younger statistician who has authored or coauthored a high quality journal article
SpainFonseca PrizeUniversity of Santiago de CompostelaPopularization of science
SpainMenéndez Pelayo International PrizeMenéndez Pelayo International UniversityPersons whose literary or scientific work has a humanistic orientation and application, in the tradition of the University's namesake Marcelino Menéndez y Pelayo
SpainPrincess of Asturias AwardsPrincess of Asturias FoundationIndividuals, entities or organizations from around the world who make notable achievements in the sciences, humanities, and public affairs
Sweden / NorwayNobel PrizeNobel Assembly at the Karolinska Institute etc.Outstanding contributions for humanity in chemistry, literature, peace, physics, and physiology or medicine
SwedenBörje Langefors Best Doctoral Dissertation AwardSwedish Information Systems AcademyBest doctoral dissertation in Sweden in the subject areas - informatics, information systems, data and information science or equivalent
SwitzerlandBalzan PrizeInternational Balzan Prize FoundationPeople or organizations who have made outstanding achievements in the fields of humanities, natural sciences, culture, as well as for endeavours for peace and the brotherhood of man
SwitzerlandRössler PrizeETH Zurich FoundationOutstanding scientific work
United KingdomAston MedalBritish Mass Spectrometry Societyoutstanding contributions to our understanding of the biological, chemical, engineering, mathematical, medical, or physical sciences relating directly to mass spectrometry
United KingdomAwards of the British AcademyBritish Academy18 awards and medals to recognise achievement in the humanities and social sciences
United KingdomBritish Academy MedalBritish AcademyOutstanding achievement that has transformed understanding of a particular subject or field of study in... any branch of the humanities and social sciences
United KingdomBurkitt MedalBritish AcademySpecial service to Biblical Studies
United KingdomDerek Allen PrizeBritish AcademyOutstanding scholarly achievement in numismatics, Celtic studies and musicology
United KingdomEuropean Medal for Bio-Inorganic ChemistryRoyal Society of ChemistryExcellence and Impact in the field of Bioinorganic chemistry
United KingdomGrahame Clark MedalBritish AcademyAcademic achievement involving recent contributions to the study of prehistoric archaeology
United KingdomIET Faraday MedalInstitution of Engineering and TechnologyNotable scientific or industrial achievement in engineering or conspicuous service rendered to the advancement of science, engineering and technology or lifetime achievement in science, engineering or technology
United KingdomImbert PrizeAssociation of Security ConsultantsDevelopment of ideas for the advancement of risk and security management in the UK
United KingdomJoan Mott Prize LectureThe Physiological SocietyPhysiology
United KingdomKenyon MedalBritish AcademyWork in the field of classical studies and archaeology
United KingdomLeslie Fox Prize for Numerical AnalysisInstitute of Mathematics and its ApplicationsYoung numerical analysts worldwide
United KingdomLeverhulme Medal British AcademySignificant contribution to knowledge and understanding in a field within the humanities and social sciences
United KingdomMakdougall Brisbane PrizeRoyal Society of EdinburghDistinction in the promotion of scientific research
United KingdomPhilip Leverhulme PrizeLeverhulme TrustOutstanding researchers. Up to thirty awards across a range of academic disciplines
United KingdomPhysiological Society Annual Review Prize LectureThe Physiological SocietyOutstanding contributions to physiology
United KingdomPresident's MedalBritish AcademyOutstanding service to the cause of the humanities and social sciences
United KingdomTuring LectureBritish Computer Society, Institution of Engineering and TechnologyLecture given by a noted speaker on the subject of Computer Science
United KingdomYoung Economist of the YearRoyal Economic Society, Financial Times1500-word short research paper on one of the economics topics announced by the host

Oceania

CountryAwardSponsorDescription
AustraliaClarke MedalRoyal Society of New South WalesDistinguished work in the natural sciences
AustraliaEndeavour AwardsGovernment of AustraliaMerit-based scholarship programme
AustraliaMax Crawford MedalAustralian Academy of the HumanitiesOutstanding achievement in the humanities by young Australian scholars currently engaged in research, and whose publications contribute towards an understanding of their discipline by the general public