Royal Astronomical Society Opens Nominations for 2025 PhD Thesis Prizes

The Royal Astronomical Society (RAS) has opened nominations for its annual PhD thesis prizes. Three awards will recognise outstanding research in astronomy, geophysics, and instrumentation science completed in 2025. Each winner will receive £1,000 and the chance to present their work at an RAS meeting.

The prizes honour the best doctoral theses from UK universities. The Michael Penston prize covers astronomy and astrophysics, including cosmology and astrobiology. Meanwhile, the Keith Runcorn prize focuses on geophysics, with fields like seismology, solar physics, and planetary science eligible for consideration.

The Patricia Tomkins prize, sponsored by the Patricia Tomkins Foundation, targets instrumentation science. This includes advancements in electronics, detectors, optics, and software for astronomy and geophysics. Runners-up in each category will receive £50 book tokens. Nominations must be submitted by Saturday, January 31, 2026. Only theses completed in 2025 at UK institutions qualify for entry.

The awards aim to highlight cutting-edge research by early-career scientists. Winners will gain financial recognition and a platform to share their findings with the wider scientific community. The RAS will announce the results after the nomination period closes.