MGUK MEDALS and AWARDS

Medals and Awards

Macro Group instituted two awards in 1997. The Macro Group Lectureship and Medal has been awarded annually to scientists who have made a continued, outstanding contribution to the development of polymer science. The Macro Group Young Researchers Medal was set up to be awarded in alternate years to young scientists (with up to  12  years of experience (excluding career breaks) since completion of PhD on December 31st of the preceding year) who have made an exceptional contribution to polymer science or who have shown outstanding promise for the future. Due to the strength of nominations, the Macro Group Young Researchers Medal has been awarded annually since 2001.

In January 2006, Macro Group announced a revised portfolio of medals, described in detail below. The Macro Group UK Medal for Outstanding Achievement is a continuation of the Macro Group Lectureship and Medal, but with a number of changes to better reflect and further enhance its prestige; these include changes to the criteria and name of the award, and a change to biennial call for nominations. The new Macro Group UK Medal was introduced to ensure that significant and substantial achievements by UK-based polymer scientists can be recognised annually. The Macro Group Young Researchers Medal continues, but with slight changes to the criteria and with formalisation of an annual call for nominations.

Macro Group UK Medal for Outstanding Achievement

Awarded to a scientist, from any country, who is recognised internationally for their continued, outstanding achievements in the field of polymer science. The recipient will be awarded a gold medal and will be expected to deliver a medal award lecture at an appropriate Macro Group UK meeting.

Nominations for this award are invited biennially. The current nomination deadline is 31st October 2023.

Macro Group UK Medal

Awarded to a UK-based scientist who has made a significant and substantial contribution to the development of polymer science through their scientific achievements and/or services to the UK polymer science community. The recipient will be awarded a silver medal and will be expected to deliver a medal award lecture at an appropriate Macro Group UK meeting.

Nominations for this award are invited annually. The current nomination deadline is 31st October 2023.

Macro Group UK Early Career Researchers Medal

Awarded to a UK-based scientist, with up to  12  years of experience (excluding career breaks) since completion of PhD on December 31st of the preceding year, whose contributions to polymer science show outstanding promise for the future. The recipient will be awarded a bronze medal and will be expected to deliver a medal award lecture at an appropriate Macro Group UK meeting.

Nominations for this award are invited annually. The current nomination deadline is 31st December 2023.

Nominations

All Macro Group UK awards are open to scientists from any organisation (industrial, commercial, government, academic…). Nominations for the Macro Group UK Medal and the Macro Group UK Young Researchers’ Medal are restricted to scientists currently working in the UK, whereas the Macro Group UK Medal for Outstanding Achievement is open to scientists from all countries of the world.

Nominations should consist of a proposer and a seconder (both current members of Macro Group UK), who should provide:

  1. a supporting statement (describing the contributions for which the nominee is notable) and

  2. a brief (1-4 page) CV of the nominee.

Nominations for the Macro Group UK Medal for Outstanding Achievement may also be made by proposers and/or seconders who are not Macro Group UK members with prior approval from the Macro Group UK Chair.

All nominations must be received by the Macro Group UK Secretary no later than 5pm GMT on the nomination deadline.  (Prof Nick Turner, Shefflied: n.w.turner@sheffield.ac.uk)

A single email containing the both items above in PDF format is preferred.

Any queries must be addressed to the Secretary.

The Jon Weaver PhD Prize

Updated guidelines will be released in January 2024!! Please check back again before submitting your application.

The MacroGroup UK “Jon Weaver PhD Prize” sponsored by Synthomer is directed at rewarding the best PhD students in the field of Polymer Science in the UK, independent of funding source. The prize will be awarded to a PhD student who has displayed an outstanding ability across a range of criteria throughout their PhD. The recipient will receive a certificate, a monetary prize from Synthomer, and will be invited to deliver a prize lecture.

Nominations

The Macro Group UK PhD Prize is open to scientists who have received their PhD from a UK-based institution. Self-nomination is acceptable; however, nominations should consist of:

1) A covering letter from the nominee (2-page maximum) describing how their work fits the selection criterion;
2) A letter from the PhD supervisor on headed paper (1-page maximum), confirming that the student has submitted a corrected thesis within the time period. If the project was industrially supported, then this and any limitations on the thesis should be highlighted;
3) A letter from the external examiner of the thesis (an examiners report is NOT suitable evidence), in which the date of the viva is specified (1-page maximum on headed paper from the examiner’s institution);
4) Thesis abstract (1-page maximum);
5) A brief CV (2 pages maximum) of the nominee including, (but not limited to):

  • Education,

  • Awards,

  • Prizes,

  • Presentations (e.g. industrial meetings, conferences, graduate meetings etc.)

6) Publication list. For each publication the nominee should highlight their role in/contributions to the paper.

The prize will be judged by a sub-committee considering the following:

Primary Criteria
– Award of PhD between 1st January and 31st December 2023 (note that evidence of submission of the corrected thesis is sufficient; the University does not have to have formally awarded the degree certificate).
– Evidence of transition to independence; and progress made by nominee over study period.
– Fit to MacroGroup UK remit and wider polymer community
– Novelty and impact of work on the specific field and wider polymer community

Secondary Criteria
– Quality and quantity of publications/outputs
– Communication of Science

The student MUST be a member of the RSC and/or SCI and subscribe to the Macro Group Interest group to be eligible.

The deadline for nominations is 30th March 2024.

All nominations must be received by the Macro Group UK Secretary no later than 5pm GMT on the nomination deadline.  (Prof Nick Turner, Sheffield: n.w.turner@sheffield.ac.uk)

A single email containing the six items above in PDF format is preferred.

Any queries must be addressed to the Macro Group Secretary.