Information for Nominators of Awards

In order to make a nomination or an application for an RSC Award, you will need to supply:

• Your name and contact details
• The candidate's name and contact details
• A supporting statement of no longer than two A4 sides
• A one page CV for the candidate which should include their date of birth, website URL, summary of education and career, a list of 5-10 publications, and other indicators of esteem and evidence of independence (for early career awards).   

For awards which specify a career-stage, the names of two potential referees should also be supplied.  With the exception of very-early career awards (e.g. the Ronald Belcher Award), these should not include the candidate's PhD or PostDoc supervisor.

For education awards it is acknowledged that it may not be appropriate to provide a publications list; other indicators of esteem should be emphasised in the CVs for these candidates.

Please ensure you have read the individual Award's criteria before making a nomination.

Selection procedure

1. Referees will be contacted for career-stage awards.  One referee will be from the nomination suggestions; the other will be selected by the relevant Division or Forum Committee.  Referees will be asked to state their relationship with the candidate and the references that they provide will be passed onto the relevant Division or Forum Committee.
2. All paperwork for awards is circulated to the members of the relevant Division or Forum Committee.  A short-list will be created if the award has a large volume of nominations.
3. The candidates (or short-lists) for all awards are considered by the relevant Division or Forum Committee at a formal meeting.  Winners will be proposed by the committees.
4. The Division or Forum Committee's recommendations are then passed onto the Awards Sub-Committee and endorsed at their May meeting.  The Committee will take an overview of all awards presented that year and resolve any outstanding issues, e.g. where an individual is recommended for more than one award.

Timeframe

1. Nominations for awards open on 1st September 2008  and close on 31st January 2009.  Awards run either annually, biennially or triennially.  Please refer to specific awards' pages for details on this.
2. The Awards office will send an email to acknowledge receipt of your nomination shortly after you make it via the electronic nomination system.  The Awards office will not contact the candidate directly.
3. Referees (if required) will be contacted immediately on receipt of the nominations.
4. Candidates may be shortlisted by the relevant Division/Forum committee prior to their Spring meetings if there is a large number of nominations.
5. At the spring meetings, winners will be chosen by the Division/Forum Committee and their recommendations passed to the Awards Sub-Committee to be endorsed at their May meeting. 
6. The award winners will be contacted by letter shortly after the meeting.
7. Once the winners have accepted their awards, all of the nominators will be contacted by email with the results. 
8. The names of the winners will be publicised in the August or September issue of RSC News and on the RSC website.
9. Awards will be presented either at an Awards ceremony in November, or at a symposia or lecture during the year by arrangement with the Award-winner. 

Career Stages

The portfolio of awards recognises excellence throughout an individual's career.

• Very Early Career - See definitions of individual prizes/awards
• Early Career - Aged 40 or under
• Mid Career - Aged 55 or under

The ages specified are intended to guide nominators and selection panels. Appropriate consideration will be given to those who have taken career breaks or followed different study paths.