PRESS RELEASE
European Astronomical Society (EAS)
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3 July 2020
New EAS Inspiration Prize for Contributions beyond Scientific Research
The EAS Council has decided to award a new prize that will recognize astronomers whose contribution to the community goes beyond scientific research. The new prize has been announced by Prof. Roger Davies, President of the European Astronomical Society (EAS), during the Closing Ceremony of the first virtual edition of the Annual Meeting of the EAS.
The European Astronomical Society wishes to recognize astronomers of all career stages whose contribution to the community goes beyond scientific research. The name of this prize will soon be decided, after consultation of the EAS membership, and will be awarded for the first time in 2021 and in alternate years thereafter.
The Prize will be awarded to:
- an individual who has overcome disadvantage, be it social, economic or of other nature, to make an important contribution to Astronomy and by their example has inspired others;
- an individual, organization or group that has enabled advances in research and/or study in Astronomy or used Astronomy to benefit to the community at large;
- an individual, organization or group that has, through the teaching and application of astronomy, facilitated or encouraged underrepresented and/or underprivileged groups to engage with and exploit advances in science.
(Note that self-nominations are not allowed.)
EAS members are invited to suggest names of astronomers that best fit the spirit of this new prize, together with a short (5-10 lines) case to support their nomination. Nominations can be submitted by sending an e-mail to the EAS Office by July 17, 2020.
During the Closing Ceremony Davies also announced the final numbers of #EASLeiden2020: 1770 particpants, 980 talks and 530 ePosters over 5 days, which makes the first virtual EAS meeting the largest online astronomy conference thus far.
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Note for editors
The European Astronomical Society (EAS) promotes and advances astronomy in Europe. As an independent body, the EAS is able to act on matters that need to be handled at a European level on behalf of the European astronomical community. In its endeavours the EAS collaborates with affiliated national astronomical societies and also with pan-European research organisations and networks. Founded in 1990, the EAS is a society of individual members. All astronomers may join the society, irrespective of their field of research, or their country of work or origin. In addition, corporations, publishers and non-profit organisations can become organizational members of the EAS. The EAS, together with one of its affiliated societies, organises the annual EAS meeting to enhance its links with national communities, to broaden connections between individual members and to promote European networks.
A full and up to date schedule of the scientific programme can be found on the official website https://eas.unige.ch/EAS2020/program.jsp. The interactive programme can be found here: https://eas.kuoni-congress.info/2020/programme/grid/29.06.2020.
Media contact
Marieke Baan
Press Officer European Astronomical Society for #EASLeiden2020
E-mail: eas-press@kuoni-congress.info
Cell: +31 (0) 614322627
Follow #EASLeiden2020 on Twitter
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