Prestigious awards

Prestigious awards are an opportunity for University of Waterloo researchers to be recognized and rewarded by external organizations for the value of their research.  

The Waterloo Awards Committee promotes and facilitates the submission of high-quality nominations of Waterloo scholars across all disciplines for prestigious awards and honorific titles.

The list below provides detail categorized by discipline with further detail about eligibility requirements, etc.

Please note that deadlines or anticipated deadlines change often so check the website for the organization that is presenting the award regularly to be sure of the deadline.

General Interest

Health

Humanities and Social Sciences

Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math Awards

RSC Medals

Upcoming Deadlines

All dates and links are anticipated but may change between now and the final deadline. Please note that many sponsors do not update their websites until 2-3 months before the deadline date. Always double-check sponsor websites before committing to a nomination.

Watch for updates on deadlines for awards in the following categories:

    LIST OF AWARDS DUE JANUARY TO APRIL

    All dates and nomination requirements are subject to change. Please consult the sponsor’s websites before committing to a course of action. 

    Due date Award
    Rolling deadline Order of Canada
    January 17 Awards for Excellence in Cancer Research (Canadian Cancer Society)
    January 20 Volvo Environment Prize
    January 30 (anticipated) Louisa Gross Horwitz Prize
    January 31 Japan Prize in Science and Technology
    January 31 Welch Award in Chemistry
    February 1 Harvey Prize
    February 24 Rumelhart Prize
    February (anticipated) Copley Medal
    March 6 Canadian Academy of Health Sciences
    March 15* Balzan Prize
    March 31 Innovators in Science Award
    April 1 Breakthrough Prizes
    April 1 Charles Stark Draper Prize for Engineering
    April 1* SSHRC Impact Awards
    April 9 International Cosmos Prize

    *Awards indicated with * require the President’s signature and/or letter of support

    LIST OF AWARDS DUE MAY TO AUGUST

    All dates and nomination requirements are subject to change. Please consult the sponsor’s websites before committing to a course of action. 

    Due date Award
    May 1 World Food Prize
    May 15 VinFuture Prize
    June 2 Killam Prizes
    June 15 Holberg International Memorial Prize
    June 16 Dorothy Killam Fellowship
    June 30 L'Oreal-UNESCO for Women in Science
    July 15 Queen Elizabeth Prize for Engineering
    July 30 BBVA Frontiers of Knowledge Awards 
    August 11 (date fluctuates) Tyler Prize for Environmental Achievement
    August 15 Henry G. Friesen International Prize in Health Research

    *Awards indicated with * require the President’s signature and/or letter of support

    LIST OF AWARDS DUE SEPTEMBER TO DECEMBER

    All dates and nomination requirements are subject to change. Please consult the sponsor’s websites before committing to a course of action. 

    Due date Award
    September 1 Abel Prize

    Expression of Interest (non-binding): September 7 

    Internal Deadline: September 22 

    Sponsor Deadline: November 7  

    		 Robbins-Ollivier Award for Excellence in Equity
    Internal: September 27, 2023; Sponsor: September 29, 2023 2024 Governor General's Innovation Awards [Federation for Humanities and Social Sciences]
    September 23, 2023 John Simon Guggenheim Fellowships
    September 30 Stockholm Water Prize
    October 5 Molson Prize
    October 20 (anticipated) Wolf Prize
    October 30 CIFAR Azrieli Global Scholars Program
    October 31 (annually) Blue Planet Prize 
    October 31, 2023 (awarded bi-annually in even years) Millennium Technology Prize
    November 1 (annually) Priestley Medal

    Internal Deadline: October 16, 2023

    External Deadline: November 1, 2023

    		 Frontiers Planet Prize

    Internal Deadline: October 17, 2023

    Sponsor Deadline: November 2, 2023

    		 2024 - Governor General's Innovation Awards [Universities Canada]
    November 8 Warren Alpert Foundation Prize
    November 14 Fondation Fyssen International Prize
    November 15 NSERC Award for Science Promotion
    November 24 Eni Awards
    November 24 (anticipated) Governor General's International Award in Canadian Studies
    November 28 Donna Strickland Prize for Societal Impact of Natural Sciences and Engineering Research
    November 28 NSERC John C. Polanyi Award
    November 28 Gerhard Herzberg Canada Gold Medal for Science and Engineering
    November 28 Brockhouse Prize for Interdisciplinary Research in Science and Engineering 
    November 30 (anticipated) Bank of Canada - Fellowship Award
    November 30 (anticipated) Bank of Canada - Governor’s Award
    November 30 (Apply in even years) Jose Vasconcelos World Award of Education
    November 30 Albert Einstein World Award of Science*
    November 30 Leonardo da Vinci's World Award of Arts
    December 8 Governor General's Performing Arts Awards
    December 14 Arthur B. McDonald Fellowships
    December 14 Synergy Awards for Innovation
    December 15 Fellow of Royal Society of Canada
    December 15 RSC College of New Scholars, Artists, and Scientists
    December 15 (annually) Gruber Prizes
    December 31, 2025 (every 4 years) Fields Medal 
    Rolling deadline Benjamin Franklin Medals

     

    Recent presentations

    NSERC McDonald Fellowships information session (September 8, 2023)

    Request President's Letter for Prestigious Awards

    If you require a letter from the President as part of an application for a prestigious award, please complete the form.

    Pivot-RP

    Learn more about Pivot-RP, a new searchable funding programs database, and how you can start searching for funding opportunities, access training videos, and more.

    Global Excellence Initiative (GEI)

    Launched in 2012 by former Governor General of Canada David Johnston, GEI promotes the recognition of Canadian research talent on the international stage by identifying and offering assistance to meritorious candidates for prestigious national and international awards.

    Recent Awards Stories

    Dr. Mahla Poudineh working in her lab

    August 28, 2023 - Professor awarded prestigious award for women in STEM

    Headshot of nine people

    September 12, 2023 - Royal Society of Canada presents Waterloo researcher with a prestigious award

    Anita Layton

    September 5, 2023 - Royal Society of Canada honours Waterloo researchers