Applications are open for the Royal Society Rising Star Africa Prize 2021. The Royal Society Rising Star Africa Prize is to recognize early-career research scientists based in Africa who are making an innovative contribution to the physical, mathematical and engineering sciences. The prize was established in memory of Paul O’Brien FRS and his work encouraging excellence in science and education in Africa.

Prizes

Winners of the Royal Society Rising Star Africa Prize 2021will receive a grant of £14,000 to support their research and a personal gift of £1,000.

Eligibility

• The prize is intended for researchers at an early stage of their research career (<8 years post PhD) with the potential to build a research project to follow on from the prize.
• The research must be based in Africa.
• Nominations can be made my senior academics and members of the national academics of science.
• The project and nominee should be linked with an African centre of excellence, which would normally be a University, or, equivalent research centre.

Other Details

• The Royal Society Rising Star Africa Prize (hereafter referred to as the Prize) will be made to an early career research scientist (hereafter referred to the Recipient) who is making an innovative contribution to the physical, mathematical and engineering sciences.
• The prize was established in memory of Paul O’Brien FRS and his work encouraging excellence in science and education in Africa.
• The Prize is intended for researchers at an early stage of their research career (<8 years post PhD) with the potential to build a research project to follow on from the prize.
• The research must be based in Africa.
• The Prize will make a grant of £14,000, including VAT where applicable, to the Recipient for a research project and £1,000 as a personal prize for the Recipient.
• The Recipients must notify the Royal Society of any change in their status or location.
• The Recipients will also be awarded a specially struck commemorative medal and they are expected to receive the Prize in person at a ceremony at the Royal Society, except in exceptional circumstances such as ill-health.
• Nominations can be made by senior academics and members of the national academies of science.
• The project and nominee should be linked with an African centre of excellence, which would normally be a University or equivalent research centre.
• Nominators are required to submit two referees for the nominee. These will be requested once nominations have closed and are shared with the relevant selection committee.
• Referees should be as independent as possible – i.e. not from the same department, nor have published/ collaborated together with the nominee in the last 5 years. The referees should also not be a member of the relevant selection committee nor the Council of the Royal Society.

Read terms and conditions of the Royal Society Rising Star Africa Prize (pdf) before submitting a nomination.