European Solar Physics Division Prizes

The European Solar Physics Division (ESPD) of the European Physical Society (EPS) awards several prizes every year in recognition of the scientific excellence of solar physicists from European institutions and their service to the community. 

• The ESPD Patricia Edwin PhD Thesis Prize (yearly)
• The ESPD Giancarlo Noci Early Career Researcher Prize (yearly)
• The ESPD Kees Zwaan Inspirational Community Prize (biennial)
  
• The ESPD Zdenek Švestka Senior Prize (triennial)

These prizes are based on nominations. The ESPD PhD Thesis, Early Career Researcher and Inspirational Community Prizes are selected by the board of the ESPD Prize committee and the ESPD President (to break ties). The ESPD Zdenek Švestka Senior Prize is selected by a board composed of the ESPD president, the ESPD Prize committee chair and by 4 to 6 external members appointed by the ESPD board. The prizes are awarded based on scientific excellence and the contribution to the advancement of solar physics research.

Additionally, during the European Solar Physics Meeting (ESPM), the ESPD board organizes a student poster competition aimed at stimulating student participation and providing a forum for PhD students to present their work in an informal and interactive setting. Posters are intended to provide PhD students and ESPM participants the ability to connect with each another and discuss the work presented. The ESPM Student Poster Prizes are awared based on scientific excellence, technical rigour, and poster format. The selection is done based on the expertise of an external jury and ESPD board members.

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ESPD Prizes 2025: Call for Nominations

Deadline: April 14th, 2025

ESPD Patricia Edwin PhD Thesis Prize

This Prize will be awarded to a young researcher whose PhD thesis was defended in 2024.

Eligibility: To qualify for this prize, the viva or public defence of the nominee must have taken place the calendar year before the award of the prize: e.g. applicants with defence/viva between 01/01/2024 and 31/12/2024 are eligible for the 2025 round of the ESPD PhD Thesis prize. The PhD degree should have been awarded by a European Institute and the majority of the work carried out in Europe. European countries are defined as the countries having a national society being a member society of the EPS .

Deadline for nominations: April 14th, 2025    

Supporting documents: Nominations should include:

1. Nomination letter from a research advisor (or equivalent collaborator) outlining the impact of the nominee’s research on the broad field of solar physics (up to 2 pages)
2. CV of the nominee (up to 2 pages)
3. Bibliographic record directly related to the nominee’s PhD research work (refereed published papers, proceedings, oral contributions, …)
4. Extended summary of the thesis that explains major findings, significance and impact on the area of solar physics (2 pages maximum)
5. Two letters of support from scientists familiar with the PhD research (e.g. members of the thesis committee or collaborators, up to 2 pages each)
6. URL where the thesis can be downloaded without any restrictions

Applications which are exceeding the page limits or are incomplete will be disqualified.

Submission: The above documents should be combined into a single PDF file (file size <2 Mb) and submitted through the ESPD prizes nomination form (link)

IMPORTANT NOTE: in order to access the form, a Google account is needed. In case a Google account is not available, please send the nomination package to sophie.masson[at]lpp.polytechnique.fr

ESPD aspires to be an inclusive and welcoming environment for all who enjoy solar physics. In order to promote equality in science, ESPD strongly encourages the nomination of female and under-represented categories in solar physicists.

ESPD Giancarlo Noci Early Career Researcher (Postdoc) Prize

This prize will be awarded to a young researcher whose PhD degree was awarded after 01/01/2021 (with possible extension).

To qualify for this prize, the viva or public defence (or date of award of the PhD when no thesis defence was held) of the nominee must have taken place no more than 4 calendar years before the award of the prize: e.g. applicants with defense/viva between 01/01/2021 and 31/12/2024 are eligible to apply for the 2025 round, if no further justification of an extension is provided. As long as the 4 years period is respected, there is no limit on the number of applications, i.e. an applicant is allowed to send an application in successive years. At the moment of the nomination, the applicant should not have a permanent position.

Incapacitating sick leave or similar circumstances extend the period of eligibility by a time span equal to the leave time. An extension of 6 months is given for maternal/paternal leaves, for each child born within the 4-year period. Periods of unemployment do not qualify for an extension. Written justification for the requested extension must be provided.

Although the primary criterion for awarding the prize is scientific excellence, candidacy with a clearer connection with institutes located in Europe (as defined by the EPS membership ) will be an advantage, in the case of equal level of scientific merit.

Deadline for nominations:  April 14th, 2025

Supporting documents: Nominations should include:

1. Nomination letter from the supervisor/grant holder outlining the impact of the nominee’s research on the broad field of solar physics (up to 2 pages each)
2. CV of the nominee (up to 2 pages)
3. Bibliographic record of the nominee (refereed published papers, proceedings, oral contributions, …)
4. Two letters of support from scientists familiar with the research (e.g., a collaborator, former PhD supervisor, or co-supervisor, up to 2 pages each)
5. The summary of the research work during the last 4 years explaining major findings, significance and impact on the area of solar physics (2 pages maximum)
6. If applicable, a letter outlining circumstances in case of the deadline extension

Applications which are exceeding the page limits or are incomplete will be disqualified.

Submission: The above documents should be combined into a single PDF (file size <2 Mb) and submitted through the ESPD prizes nomination form (link) .

IMPORTANT NOTE: in order to access the form, a Google account is needed. In case a Google account is not available, please send the nomination package to sophie.masson[at]lpp.polytechnique.fr

ESPD aspires to be an inclusive and welcoming environment for all who enjoy solar physics. In order to promote equality in science, ESPD strongly encourages the nomination of female and other under-represented groups in solar physics.

ESPD Kees Zwaan Inspirational Community Prize

This ESPD prize will be awarded, with the aim of recognizing researchers/technicians/organizations/groups whose contribution goes beyond scientific research in the field of Solar Physics.

Deadline for nominations: April 14th, 2025

 - an individual who has overcome a disadvantage (social, economic, educational, etc.) to make an important contribution to Solar Physics and his/her example has inspired others;

- an individual/organisation/group that has enabled advances in research and/or study in Solar Physics to benefit the general public/community at large; 

- an individual/organisation/group that, through teaching, development of instruments and other Solar Physics applications, facilitated or encouraged under-represented and/or under-privileged groups to engage with and exploit advances in Solar Physics.

Supporting documents: Nominations should include:

1. Nomination letter outlining the engagement and impact of the nominee’s contribution, within the activities described above, in the field of solar physics (up to 2 pages)
2. Nominee’s CV (6 page max)
3. Two letters of support from scientists familiar with the nominee’s activity (up to 2 pages each)
4. Bibliographic record of the Nominee (papers, books, booklets with outreach material, if applicable)

Applications which are exceeding the page limits or are incomplete will be disqualified.

Submission: The above documents should be combined into a single PDF (file size <2 Mb) and submitted through the ESPD prizes nomination form (link) .

IMPORTANT NOTE: in order to access the form, a Google account is needed. In case a Google account is not available, please send the nomination package to sophie.masson[at]lpp.polytechnique.fr

ESPD aspires to be an inclusive and welcoming environment for all who enjoy solar physics. In order to promote equality in science, ESPD strongly encourages the nomination of female and other under-represented groups in solar physics.

ESPD Zdenek Švestka Senior Prize

Eligibility: The prize is awarded every three years to a distinguished senior solar scientist for a life-long prolific career or scholarship in the field of solar physics.

Deadline for nominations: The Call is Closed

Supporting documents: Nominations should include:

1. Nomination letter outlining the impact of the nominee’s research on the broad field of solar physics (up to 2 pages)

2. Nominee’s CV (6 page max)

3. Nominee’s bibliography (refereed published papers, books)

4. Three letters of support from scientists familiar with the research (up to 2 pages each)

Applications which are exceeding the page limits or are incomplete will be disqualified.

Submission: The above documents should be combined into a single PDF (file size <2 Mb) and submitted through the ESPD prizes nomination form (link) .

IMPORTANT NOTE: in order to access the form, a Google account is needed. In case a Google account is not available, please send the nomination package to sophie.masson[at]lpp.polytechnique.fr

ESPD aspires to be an inclusive and welcoming environment for all who enjoy solar physics. In order to promote equality in science, ESPD strongly encourages the nomination of female and other under-represented groups in solar physics .

List of ESPD Prizes Winners

ESPD Patricia Edwin PhD Thesis Prize

• 2017: Dr. Clara Froment (PhD carried at the Institut d’Astrophysique Spatiale, FR):
  Prize awarded for significant contributions to the resolution of the solar coronal heating problem.
• 2018: Dr. Peter Levens (PhD carried at University of Glasgow, UK):
  Prize awarded for significant contributions to the study of tornado-like prominences - using detailed ultraviolet spectroscopic, multi wavelength imaging and visible spectropolarimetric observational analysis - helping to unveil the nature of these structures.
• 2019: Dr. Norbert Magyar (PhD carried at Centre for mathematical Plasma Astrophysics, KU Leuven, Belgium):
  Prize awarded for significant contributions, using 3D magneto-hydrodynamics numerical experiments, to the study of waves and their relation to turbulence in the solar corona.
• 2020: Dr. Stefan Hofmeister (PhD carried at Institute of Physics, University of Graz, Austria):
  Prize awarded for outstanding observational analysis of solar coronal holes, their magnetic fine structure and the associated high-speed solar wind streams.
• 2021: Dr. Camilla Scolini (PhD carried at Centre for mathematical Plasma Astrophysics, KU Leuven, Belgium):
  Prize awarded for significant contributions on numerical modelling and observational analyses of the propagation of coronal mass ejections.
• 2022: Dr. Juraj Lörinčik (PhD carried at Charles University in Prague, Czech Republic): Prize awarded for significant contributions on observational analyses of 3D reconnection in solar flares, providing important verification of the recent predictions of the 3D extensions of the Standard solar flare model.
• 2023: Dr. Yuto Bekki (PhD carried at University of Göttingen, Department of Physics, Göttingen - International Max Planck Research School / Max Planck Institute for Solar System Research, Germany): Prize awarded for the outstanding collection of original results about modes of solar oscillation in the inertial frequency range and for the development of numerical models to classify and study the various families of inertial modes that permeate the solar convection zone.
• 2024: Dr. Robert Jarolim (PhD carried at University of Graz, Austria): Prize awarded for the outstanding thesis consisting of a number of important and ground-breaking studies and results in different fields of solar physics with the most recent AI and Deep Learning methods.
  

ESPD Giancarlo Noci Early Career Researcher (Postdoc) Prize

• 2017: Dr. Natasha Jeffrey (working at University of Glasgow, UK, at the time of award):
  Prize awarded for significant contributions to the physics of solar flares and for inspiring outreach activities.
• 2018: Dr. Tanausú del Pino Alemán (working at Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias, Spain, at the time of award):
  Prize awarded for ground breaking contributions in the field of theoretical solar spectropolarimetry, developing novel methods and very efficient radiative transfer computer programs for understanding scattering line polarization using realistic atomic and atmospheric models.
• 2019: Dr. Lakshmi Pradeep Chitta (working at Max Planck Institute for Solar System Research, Germany, at the time of award):
  Prize awarded for ground breaking observational analysis highlighting the crucial role of small-scale photospheric magnetic fields in the structure and dynamics of the solar corona.
• 2020: Dr. Victor Réville (working at Institut de Recherche en Astrophysique et Planétologie, France, at the time of award):
  Prize awarded for fundamental contributions to creating self-consistent multi-dimensional numerical models of coronal heating and solar wind acceleration via wave turbulence.
• 2021: Dr. Daniel Nóbrega-Siverio (working at Rosseland Centre for Solar Physics, Norway, at the time of award):
  Prize awarded for important contributions to the understanding of solar chromospheric phenomena and related processes, combining theory, observations and numerical experimentation.
• 2022: Dr. Petra Kohutova (working at University of Oslo, Norway, at the time of award):

  Prize awarded for important contributions to the understanding of thermal instability in the solar atmosphere, combining observations, theory, and modelling.

• 2023: Dr. Jack Jenkins (Postdoctoral Researcher at KU Leuven, Belgium, at the time of the award):  Prize awarded for important contributions to the understanding of the development, evolution and eruption of solar filaments/prominences using observation and numerical results and for the identification of instabilities in the process of prominence formation and evolution.

• 2024: Dr. Stephan Heinemann ( working at the University of Helsinki, Finland, at the time of award): Prize awarded for important contributions in the understanding of the detailed nature and evolution of coronal holes. Dr Heinemann has also contributed significantly to improving estimates of the photospheric magnetic flux on the far side of the Sun using helioseismology and his work on photospheric magnetograms has also led to the discovery of low-frequency oscillations of the photospheric magnetic field at high latitudes.

  
  

   

ESPD Kees Zwaan Inspirational Community Prize

• 2023: B. Sc. Martina Pavelková (working at the Astronomical Institute of the Czech Academy of Science (Czech Republic)): Prize awarded for her tireless dedication and enthusiasm to knowledge dissemination, for serving as inspiration and role model for younger generation and for her role in the development and coordination of a cross-border network of amateur solar physicists.
  

ESPD Zdenek Švestka Senior Prize

• 2017: Prof. Dr. Manfred Schüssler (working at Max Planck Institute for Solar System Research, Germany, at the time of the award): Prize awarded for his outstanding, life-long scholarship in solar physics, his fundamental contribution to the study of solar magnetic fields and his school-forming influence on generations of solar physicists.

• 2020: Prof. Dr. Eric Priest (working at University of St Andrews, UK, at the time of the award): Prize awarded for long-standing leadership via mentoring, supervising and field-defining textbooks and for fundamental contributions in key topics of solar magnetohydrodynamics, particularly magnetic reconnection in the solar atmosphere and solar coronal heating.

• 2024: Prof. Dr. Sami K. Solanki (Director at the Max-Planck Institute for Solar System Research, Göttingen, Germany): Prize awarded for being an exceptional luminary in the field of solar physics, whose contributions have significantly advanced our understanding of the Sun and its complex phenomena. Prof Solanki has emerged as a towering figure in the realm of solar physics, exemplifying excellence across multiple domains of scientific inquiry and leadership. Prof Solanki has distinguished himself as a devoted educator and mentor, nurturing the next generation of researchers and inspiring countless individuals to pursue careers in solar physics. His passion for teaching and mentorship has left an indelible mark on the scientific community, fostering a legacy of excellence that extends far beyond his own achievements. As Principal Investigator and coordinator of numerous large-scale projects, Prof Solanki has orchestrated multifaceted efforts aimed at advancing solar physics research and pushing the boundaries of scientific inquiry. Prof Solanki embodies the epitome of scientific excellence, leadership, and mentorship in the field of solar physics.

ESPM Student Poster Prize

• 2017: ESPM-15th Student poster prize awarded to David Korda (Czechia) for his work entitled "Combined Helioseismic Inversion for 3D Vector Flows and Sound-Speed Perturbations."

• 2021: The three ESPM-16th student poster prizes were co-sponsored by Solar Physics Journal (part of Springer Nature).

• 1st prize: Zihao Yang (Peking University, China) for his work entitled "Magnetoseismology for the solar corona: from ~10 Gauss to coronal magnetograms"
• 2nd prize: Florian Koller (University of Graz, Austria) for his work entitled "First results on production of magnetosheath jets during SIRs and CMEs"
• 3rd prize: Seray Sahin (Northumbria university, UK) for her work entitled "Prevalence of thermal non-equilibrium over an active region"