The Society gives several awards and honors. Lectures offer distinguished historians of science the opportunity to present their views to a broad audience. These lecturers are chosen by Society officers. Prizes recognize various outstanding contributions to the history of science. All Society sponsored prizes are announced and distributed at the Society’s annual meeting. Prizes are awarded by special committees, who consider nominations submitted by members, publishers, and the public at large.
Submit a Nomination for an HSS Prize
Congratulations to our 2016 HSS Award Recipients!
Learn more about each prize
- Sarton Medal, HSS’s most prestigious award (varying deadline)
- Pfizer Award, honoring outstanding books (deadline is 1 April)
- Derek Price/Rod Webster Prize, recognizing outstanding articles published in Isis (deadline is 1 April)
- Joseph H. Hazen Education Prize, promoting exemplary teaching and educational service (deadline is 1 April)
- Philip J. Pauly Prize, awarded for the best first book on the history of science in the Americas (deadline is 1 April)
- Ronald Rainger Prize, awarded for the best early career work on the history of the earth and environmental sciences (deadline in 1 April)
- Margaret W. Rossiter History of Women in Science Prize, highlighting the role of women in science (nominate an article in even-numbered years or a book in odd-numbered years, deadline is 1 April)
- Watson Davis and Helen Miles Davis Prize, recognizing the best books for general readers (deadline is 1 April)
- Nathan Reingold Prize (formerly the Henry and Ida Schuman Prize), crediting standout work by graduate students (deadline is 1 June)
- Suzanne J. Levinson Prize, highlighting a book in the history of life sciences and natural history, awarded biennially (deadline is 1 April)
- Outstanding Service Award, honoring a member for outstanding service to the discipline (deadline is 1 April)
Lectures
George Sarton Memorial Lecture
The Sarton Memorial Lecture is presented at the annual meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS).
Joseph H. Hazen Lecture
The Joseph H. Hazen Lecture is part of the History of Science Society’s educational efforts and public outreach programs. The Lecture is named after Joseph Hazen (1898-1994), a longtime supporter of the Society. After his death, his daughter Cynthia Hazen Polsky gave the Society a generous donation, which included arrangements for a biennial or triennial lecture in the history of science to be delivered in cooperation with the New York Academy of Science.
History of Science Society Distinguished Lecture
The Distinguished Lecture is presented to a plenary session at the HSS Annual Meeting in November of each year.