Nominations are now open for the 2027 Caroline Herschel Medal, an award which celebrates exceptional women astrophysicists in the UK and Germany.
The award not only honours individual excellence but also highlights the important role of women in advancing our understanding of the universe.
Administered jointly by the Royal Astronomical Society (RAS) and the German Astronomical Society (Astronomische Gesellschaft, AG), it celebrates the rich history of scientific collaboration between the UK and Germany, as well as outstanding women astronomers in both countries.
The medal recognises an established researcher for their outstanding contributions to astrophysics, either through research or leadership. All women are encouraged to apply, and self-nominations are welcomed.
Established in 2021, the Caroline Herschel Medal honours the legacy of pioneering astronomer Caroline Herschel (1750–1848), who made groundbreaking discoveries, including several comets.
It is awarded in alternate years to researchers based in the UK and Germany. This year the prize will be awarded to a researcher based in the UK, with an accompanying prize fund of £3,000.
Previous winners are Professor Heike Rauer (2026), Professor Isobel Hook (2025), Dr Linda Tacconi (2024), Professor Gillian Wright (2023) and Professor Eva Grebel (2022).
The nomination should include:
- A full CV (including a description of broader service contributions, such as teaching, mentoring activities, and services to the astronomy community)
- A shortlist of key refereed publications (up to five)
- The names of two referees
- The nomination (minimum length 300 words, maximum length 600 words. Nominations should be written in English). The nomination should address how the nominee fulfils the criteria of the award. Successful nominations argue a strong case for why the nominee deserves the award over and above one of their peers working in the same area. Candidates should also describe their UK-German collaborations. It is helpful if the nomination is phrased in such a way that extracts from it can be used in the formal recommendation of the Committee. The nomination should also include the nominee's present career stage and the nominee's present post.
The nominations will be judged by a panel comprising representatives from the RAS and AG.
Please complete the form online here. The deadline for nominations is Tuesday 1 December 2026 and the award ceremony is due to take place in London, in Spring 2027.