The TWAS Awards, formerly known as ‘TWAS Prizes,’ are presented to individual scientists from developing countries in recognition of their exceptional contributions to scientific knowledge across nine scientific fields and/or their application of science and technology for sustainable development.
The TWAS Awards are bestowed biennially under the decision reached by the TWAS Council in November 2018. Furthermore, during the TWAS Council meeting held in Hangzhou, China, on November 11, 2019, UNESCO’s proposal to replace the term ‘prize’ with ‘award’ for all existing and new TWAS distinctions, excluding medals, was endorsed. Consequently, this recognition program is now formally referred to as the ‘TWAS Awards.
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| Host: World Academy of Sciences Open to: Developing countries Target: Scientist Deadline: March 31, 2024 |
Eligibility Criteria: TWAS Award
- Candidates for a TWAS Award must be scientists who have been working and living in a developing country for at least ten years immediately before their nomination. They must meet at least one of the following qualifications:
- Scientific research achievements of outstanding significance for the development of scientific thought.
- Outstanding contribution to the application of science and technology to sustainable development.
The outstanding contribution may be defined by the existing opportunities and realistic possibilities available to the candidate.
This applies particularly to candidates from scientifically disadvantaged countries.
- Members of TWAS are not eligible for TWAS awards.
- Nominations from jury members in the scientific disciplines in which they serve as Independent Expert Committee members will not be considered.
- Self-nominations will not be considered.
Benefit
- TWAS Awards grant a monetary sum of USD 10,000 for each of the nine categories. The revised amount was initially determined by the TWAS Council in December 2018 and subsequently fine-tuned during the Council meeting convened in Hangzhou, China, on November 11, 2019. These categories encompass agriculture, nutrition, and food systems sciences; biological sciences; chemical sciences; earth, climate, and environmental sciences; engineering and computer sciences; mathematical sciences; medical and health sciences; physics, astronomy, and space sciences; and social sciences.
- Awards are accompanied by a medal.
- Awards are usually presented on a special occasion, often coinciding with the General Meeting of TWAS.
Application Procedure
Interested and qualified? Go to The World Academy of Sciences (TWAS) on onlineforms.twas.org to apply
Please note that the deadline to submit nominations is March 31, 2024. However, we strongly recommend that you not wait until the deadline but submit your nomination as early as possible.
- TWAS is inviting nominations from all its members, as well as science academies, national research councils, universities, and scientific institutions in developing and developed countries.
- Nominations must be made on the online nomination form and clearly state the contribution the candidate has made to the development of the particular field of science for which the award would be given.
- Nominations of women scientists and scientists from scientifically lagging countries are particularly encouraged.
- The re-nomination of a previously declined candidate shall be accepted only if it bears substantially new elements for judgment.
How to nominate
The ‘TWAS Awards’ nominations can only be submitted electronically through the online platform by clicking on the “NEW NOMINATION” button at the bottom of this page.
To resume working on saved nominations, click on the “RESUME” button at the bottom of this page.
The extended deadline for receiving nominations is March 31, 2024; however, we strongly recommend that you do not wait until the deadline but submit the nomination as early as you can to enable us to process it as quickly as possible.
Before starting compiling the nomination, PLEASE PAY PARTICULAR ATTENTION TO THE MAXIMUM CHARACTERS ALLOWED.
A nomination is considered complete only if it includes all of the following information or material:
- Nominator contact details
- Nominee contact details (self-nominations and nominations from jury members will not be considered) and general information on the nominee, including the country where he or she has been working and living in the past 10 years
- In the scientific field, the nominations are for only one.
- Suggested citation (20–25 words highlighting the nominee’s scientific achievements)
- A supporting statement that explains carefully the work performed by the nominee, its significance, and the justification for its outstanding nature. The outstanding contribution may be defined as existing opportunities and realistic possibilities available to the candidate. This applies particularly to candidates from scientifically disadvantaged countries
- A biographical sketch of the nominee in narrative style. Information on any time spent abroad in the home country in the past ten years is to be provided.
- Degrees obtained
- Professional appointments
- Brief information on membership in academies and societies
- Brief information on awards and honours received
- A list of the 12 most significant publications is listed in an internationally acceptable format.
- Google Scholar h-index and number of citations
- Contact details (especially email addresses) of five referees covering a wide geographical distribution whom we can contact regarding the nominee’s work. It is to be noted that referee reports can only be submitted through the online platform. TWAS will communicate with the referees via the email address provided in the nomination form. It’s important to acknowledge that if the TWAS Executive Director’s deadline passes without receiving at least three substantive referee reports, the nomination will not proceed. Referees are advised to concentrate their letters on the impact of the nominee’s work.
- The nominee’s brief CV and her or his complete list of publications are also to be uploaded separately onto the online platform (only PDF files are allowed).
- Authorization from the nominee to process his or her data for his or her nomination, in conformity with Art. 13 of the Italian Legislative Decree 196/2003. This authorization can only be submitted through the online platform. Specifically, TWAS will reach out to nominees using the email address provided in the nomination form and will ask them to submit their acceptance online on or before the specified deadline.
Click to start a new nomination for the 2026 TWAS Awards (administered in 2024)
Click to resume working on saved nominations for the 2026 TWAS Awards (administered in 2024)
NOTE: The selection of the awardees is based on scientific merit and the recommendations of the selection committees composed of TWAS members. The names of the winners will be announced on the first day of the next TWAS General Conference. The winners will be invited to receive their awards during the 2026 TWAS General Conference.
For more information, visit TWAS Awards