In addition to the Fellows and College of New Scholars Programs, the RSC also recognizes research leaders through a number of awards, most of which are awarded biennially. Nominations are accepted between January and March. The internal deadline for VPR nomination is typically November (although this may vary depending on the award deadline).
Nomination packages include a nomination form, letter of nomination from the Primary Nominator, two letters of support from co-nominators (max 50 words), citation (max 70 words), detailed appraisal (max 1200 words), three letters of reference (max 750 words per letter), three bios from referees (max 250 words), and a CV (max 20 pages).
Like the Fellows and College of New Scholars Programs, the detailed appraisal is a statement that provides a compelling narrative of your research impacts. This must be written for a multi-disciplinary evaluation committee. This document takes time to write; expect to go through multiple round of feedback with RSO.
You will find brief descriptions of the awards below; for more information, please see the RSC Awards webpage.
Flavelle Medal (Biological Science)
The medal is awarded for an outstanding contribution to biological science during the preceding ten years or for significant additions to a previous outstanding contribution to biological science. The gold-plated silver medal is offered every two years if there is a suitable candidate.
For a list of past award winners, please see the RSC Awards past winners website - Flavelle Medal.
Ursula Franklin Award in Gender Studies
The Ursula Franklin Award in Gender Studies recognizes significant contributions by a Canadian scholar in the humanities and social sciences to furthering our understanding of issues concerning gender. The award, in the form of a diploma, is offered every two years if there is a suitable candidate.
For a list of past award winners, please see the RSC Awards past winners website - Ursula Franklin Award.
Henry Marshall Tory Medal (Astronomy, Chemistry, Mathematics, Physics, Applied Science)
The medal is awarded for outstanding research in a branch of astronomy, chemistry, mathematics, physics, or an allied science, carried out mainly in the eight years preceding the date of the award, but all the research of the candidate is considered. The gold-plated silver medal is offered every two years if there is a suitable candidate.
For a list of past award winners, please see the RSC Awards past winners website - Henry Marshall Tory Medal.
Innis Gérin Medal (Social Sciences)
The medal is awarded for a distinguished and sustained contribution to the literature of the social sciences including human geography and social psychology. The bronze medal is offered every two years if there is a suitable candidate.
For a list of past award winners, please see the RSC Awards past winners website - Innis Gérin Medal.
J.B. Tyrell Historical Medal (History)
The medal is awarded for outstanding work in the history of Canada. The gold-plated silver medal is offered every two years if there is a suitable candidate.
For a list of past award winners, please see the RSC Awards past winners website - J.B. Tyrell Historical Medal.
Jason A. Hannah Medal (History of Medicine)
The medal is awarded for an important publication in the history of medicine. The award is for a book published in the five years preceding its nomination. The bronze medal and a cash amount of $1,500 are offered every year if there is a suitable nomination.
For a list of past award winners, please see the RSC Awards past winners website - Jason A. Hannah Medal.
John L. Synge Award (Mathematics)
The award is given for outstanding research in any of the branches of the mathematical sciences. In cases where there are two or more strong candidates, some preference is given to those whose age is not over forty in the year of the award. It consists of a diploma and is offered at irregular intervals if there is a suitable candidate.
For a list of past award winners, please see the RSC Awards past winners website - John L. Synge Award.
Lorne Pierce Medal (Literature)
The medal is awarded for an achievement of special significance and conspicuous merit in imaginative or critical literature written in either English or French (critical literature dealing with Canadian subjects has priority over critical literature of equal merit that does not deal with Canadian subjects). The gold-plated silver medal is offered every two years if there is a suitable candidate.
For a list of past award winners, please see the RSC Awards past winners website - John L. Synge Award.
McLaughlin Medal (Medical Sciences)
The medal is awarded for important research of sustained excellence in any branch of medical sciences. The gold-plated silver medal is awarded every year if there is a suitable candidate.
For a list of past award winners, please see the RSC Awards past winners website - McLaughlin Medal.
Miroslaw Romanowski Medal (Environmental/Ecological Science)
The medal is awarded for significant contributions to the resolution of scientific aspects of environmental problems or for important improvements to the quality of an ecosystem in all aspects - terrestrial, atmospheric, and aqueous - brought about by scientific means. The bronze medal and a cash amount of $3,000 are awarded every year if there is a suitable candidate. An annual lecture series for the award recipient is also associated to the medal.
For a list of past award winners, please see the RSC Awards past winners website - Miroslaw Romanowski Medal.
Pierre Chauveau Medal (Humanities excluding Canadian history and Canadian literature)
The medal is awarded for a distinguished contribution to knowledge in the humanities other than Canadian literature and Canadian history. The silver medal is offered every two years if there is a suitable candidate.
For a list of past award winners, please see the RSC Awards past winners website - Pierre Chauveau Medal.
Rutherford Memorial Medals (Physics and Chemistry)
The medals are awarded for outstanding research during the formative stage of a career in any branch of physics and chemistry. Preference will be given to candidates who have received their PhD within the previous 15 years. Each gold-plated silver medal is offered every year if there is a suitable candidate.
For a list of past award winners, please see the RSC Awards past winners website - Rutherford Memorial Medals.
Sir John William Dawson Medal (Interdisciplinary/Multidisciplinary)
To commemorate Dawson’s great versatility, the award is made for important and sustained contributions in two domains of interest to the RSC or in interdisciplinary research. The silver medal is awarded every two years if there is a suitable candidate.
For a list of past award winners, please see the RSC Awards past winners website - Sir John William Dawson Medal.
Willet G. Miller Medal (Earth Sciences)
This medal is offered for outstanding research in the solid earth sciences and a second in the ocean and atmospheric sciences, if suitably worthy candidates are nominated. Awarded biennially.
For a list of past award winners, please see the RSC Awards past winners website - Willet G. Miller Medal.
Yvan Allaire Medal (Organizational Governance)
The Institute for Governance of private and public organizations (IGOPP) in partnership with the RSC established the Yvan Allaire medal to honour the exemplary contribution of Yvan Allaire in promoting healthy governance practices in public and private organizations of all sizes. An annual award, the winner receives a medal and a cash award of $5,000.
For a list of past award winners, please see the RSC Awards past winners website - Yvan Allaire Medal.