This award was established in 2013 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Australian Institute of Physics.  The award commemorates one of Australia ’s most outstanding early career physicists, Ruby Payne-Scott, who is best known for her pioneering contributions to radioastronomy in Australia.

The award aims to recognise achievements of exceptionally promising early career physicists.

The Award consists of a medal and a certificate, and is awarded biennially.

The winner will be invited to present an invited talk related to the nominated research at the next AIP Congress and write an article for publication in Australian Physics.

Eligibility Requirements

Nominees for the award must:

• not previously have received the Ruby Payne-Scott Award
• be a member of the AIP
• be nominated by a Proposer who is a member of the AIP.

• be an Early Career physicist, where ‘Early Career’ is defined as those individuals who are either:

• In the first 12 years of their career (allowing for any career breaks or part-time study), following the award of a first degree. To be considered, nominees must be within this period, which ends on 1 July in the year which the medal is to be awarded. For example, a person nominated for the 2026 Medal, who has had no career breaks, must have received their first physics related degree no earlier than 1 July 2014; OR
• In the first 6 years of their career (allowing for any career breaks or part-time study), following the award of PhD or an equivalent doctoral degree. To be considered, nominees must be within this period, which ends on 1 July in the year which the medal is to be awarded. For example, a person nominated for the 2026 Medal, who has had no career breaks, must have received their PhD or doctoral degree no earlier than 1 July 2010;
• Acceptable career disruptions include the following: Medical illness, disability, carer’s duties, parental leave, international relocation causing significant disruption, unemployment,  or working in a non-research position;
• have made contributions in any field of physics which may be presented in a single piece of work or be the sum of several contributions;

Nomination Material and Process

The online Ruby Payne-Scott Medal nomination form requires the Proposer to provide:

• The names and contact details of three (3) referees who have appropriate expertise to offer a critical appraisal of the nominee's achievements. At least one of the referrees must be exernal to the nominee’s place of work and not be a a former or current co-author/collaborator of the nominee. For a nomination to be considered by the selection committee at least two (2) supporting statements must be received; 
• A one sentence citation capturing the nature of the work, as well as a longer citation (no more than 300 words) that briefly summarises the nominee’s work in relation to the award application. This is to be written for a scientifically literate lay person. This will be used for promotion/certificates if the nominee is successful.
• A brief curriculum vitae covering personal details, academic and professional qualifications, and outlining significant contributions to physics with references to key publications in which these contributions were presented.
• A list of the nominee’s most significant publications or academic papers to demonstrate contributions in their chosen area of endeavour (maximum of ten, with dates).

Only one medal will be awarded in each round.

Nominations close: 1 April each nomination year.

Nominations, including all supporting documentation, should be submitted via the online Ruby Payne-Scott Award nomination form, by the advertised closing date. Referees should submit their letters of reference using this submission form, independently of any correspondence from the nominee, also by the advertised closing date.

Assessment Criteria

Nominees will be evaluated on the basis of:

• the significance of the contribution to research made post award of the nominee’s PhD;
• the impact of the publications and international standing of the applicant;
• the creativity and innovation of the nominee’s research contributions.

Previous Winners

• 2024 Dr Cullan Howlett, University of Queensland
• 2022 Professor Phiala Shanahan, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
• 2020 Dr Magdalena Zych, University of Queensland 
• 2018 Dr Jacquiline Romero, University of Queensland
• 2016 Dr Marcus Doherty, Australian National University