Gerhard Herzberg Canada Gold Medal for Science and Engineering

Overview

The Gerhard Herzberg Canada Gold Medal for Science and Engineering is a prestigious award given annually by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) of Canada. Named after the eminent physicist and Nobel laureate Gerhard Herzberg, the medal recognizes outstanding and sustained achievement in research in the natural sciences or engineering. The award is considered one of the highest honors for scientists and engineers in Canada.

A gold medal with intricate designs and inscriptions.

History

The Gerhard Herzberg Canada Gold Medal for Science and Engineering was established in 1991 by the NSERC. The award was named in honor of Gerhard Herzberg, a German-Canadian physicist who made significant contributions to the field of molecular spectroscopy. Herzberg's work earned him the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1971. The award was created to acknowledge and encourage excellence in scientific research in Canada.

Eligibility and Nomination

To be eligible for the Gerhard Herzberg Canada Gold Medal for Science and Engineering, the nominee must be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident who has made significant contributions to the natural sciences or engineering. The nominee's research must have been conducted primarily in Canada. Nominations are made by peers, and the selection process is highly competitive. The nomination package includes a detailed description of the nominee's research contributions, their impact, and supporting letters from peers in the field.

Selection Process

The selection process for the Gerhard Herzberg Canada Gold Medal for Science and Engineering is rigorous and multi-staged. The NSERC's Committee on Discovery Research, a panel of distinguished scientists and engineers, reviews the nominations. The Committee evaluates the nominees based on the significance of their research contributions, the sustained excellence of their research, and the impact of their work on the natural sciences or engineering. The Committee's recommendation is then forwarded to the NSERC for final approval.

Award

The recipient of the Gerhard Herzberg Canada Gold Medal for Science and Engineering is awarded a gold medal and a grant of up to $1 million. The grant is intended to support the recipient's ongoing research work. The award is presented at a ceremony in Ottawa, where the recipient is given the opportunity to address the scientific community and the public about their research.

Impact

The Gerhard Herzberg Canada Gold Medal for Science and Engineering has had a significant impact on the scientific community in Canada. It has recognized and celebrated the achievements of some of the country's most accomplished scientists and engineers. The award has also helped to raise the profile of scientific research in Canada, and has inspired young scientists and engineers to strive for excellence in their work.

Notable Recipients

Over the years, the Gerhard Herzberg Canada Gold Medal for Science and Engineering has been awarded to a number of notable scientists and engineers. These include:

- Louis Taillefer, a physicist known for his work on superconductivity, who received the award in 2007. - Victoria Kaspi, an astrophysicist renowned for her research on neutron stars, who was the recipient in 2016. - Barbara Sherwood Lollar, a geochemist who made significant contributions to the understanding of Earth's deep water cycle, who was honored with the award in 2019.