Nominations open for the Caroline Herschel Medal
The award celebrates individual excellence and the vital contributions of women to advancing our understanding of the universe. Jointly administered by the Royal Astronomical Society (RAS) and the German Astronomical Society (Astronomische Gesellschaft, AG), it also honours the longstanding scientific collaboration between the two countries.
The medal recognises an established researcher for outstanding contributions to astrophysics through research or leadership. All women are encouraged to apply, and self-nominations are welcome.
Established in 2021, the award commemorates pioneering astronomer Caroline Herschel (1750–1848), whose groundbreaking discoveries included several comets. It is presented in alternate years to researchers based in the UK and Germany.
The 2027 medal will be awarded to a researcher based in the UK, who will also receive a prize of £3,000.
Previous recipients include Professor Heike Rauer (2026), Professor Isobel Hook (2025), Dr Linda Tacconi (2024), Professor Gillian Wright (2023) and Professor Eva Grebel (2022).
How to nominate
Nominations must be submitted in English and include:
- A full CV, including broader service contributions such as teaching, mentoring and service to the astronomy community.
- A shortlist of up to five key refereed publications.
- The names of two referees.
- A nomination statement of 300–600 words.
The nomination statement should explain how the candidate meets the award criteria and make a compelling case for why they deserve the medal compared with other researchers working in the same field. It should also describe the nominee’s UK–German collaborations.
Nominators are encouraged to write the statement in a way that allows extracts to be used in the Committee’s formal recommendation. The statement should also specify the nominee’s current career stage and position.
Nominations will be assessed by a panel comprising representatives from the RAS and AG.
The deadline for nominations is Tuesday 1 December 2026.
The award ceremony is scheduled to take place in London in spring 2027.
