Nomination Details

Eligibility

• Any individual working in a registered non-profit organization, post-secondary institution, museum, science centre or company, or freelance science communication professional within Canada may be nominated for the award. 

• Nominees will have made a successful and sustained effort to communicate science to the public to increase understanding of the broader area of natural sciences, social science, multi-disciplinary sciences, medicine, engineering, math and technology [“science”] outside of their specific area of expertise. 

• Consideration will be given to those nominees who have demonstrated their ability to speak about a broad range of scientific topics, not just their own research.

• The individual must be able to speak to a general adult population (not K-12). 

• Posthumous or self-nominations will not be accepted. 

• Current RCIScience Board members are not eligible for nomination.

• Past winners of a Fleming Medal are not eligible to be nominated a second time. 

• In order to qualify, the achievements of any nominee must be distinct from the organization as a whole.

Nomination Process and Selection Criteria

• Anyone with direct knowledge of an individual’s contribution to science communication may nominate that candidate for the Fleming Medal. 

• Nominators may be colleagues or people who have benefited from the nominee’s contributions, such as teachers, parents, community members or administrators.

• Such nominations may be supported by a letter from the organization confirming the distinct nature of the activities. Furthermore, no consideration will be given to any aspect of the organization or its activities during the review process.

The nomination package must include:

• A completed, signed Science Communication Nomination Form submitted to the Executive Director, RCIScience, by the nomination deadline.

• A letter or document (two pages maximum) that describes, or summarizes, the nominee’s:

  • efforts and involvement in inspiring public understanding of science; 

  • the content, originality and scope of the nominee’s activities;  

  • approach to science communication, including creativity in public engagement; 

  • recent successful science communication or engagement activities demonstrating a diversity of audiences including, if possible, the impact and duration of the nominee’s activities (Note: Nominators are encouraged to include specific measures of impact).

• Two signed letters of recommendation (no more than two pages each), or as deemed appropriate by the Awards Committee.

• Supporting documentation (such as promotional material, participant feedback, media coverage, publications, awards) (no more than five pages).

Selection Process

• Nominations are reviewed by the Awards Committee of the RCIScience Board of Directors.  

• The Chair of the RCIScience Board of Directors is the Chair of the Awards Committee, or a member nominated by the Chair of the Board of Directors.

• It is recognized that occasionally members of the Awards Committee will know applicants or have other conflicts of interest. They will be expected to declare all such knowledge and conflicts of interests.

• In the case of knowing an applicant the Chair of the selection panel will rule if this is significant enough for the Committee member to stand down for that applicant. 

• The Committee will not enter into any correspondence concerning its deliberations. All inquiries should be directed to the RCIScience Executive Director. Note that information on matters such as ranking, or names of unsuccessful nominees, will not be disclosed.

• Nominations will be kept active for two years following submission to the RCIScience.

• In any year, the Awards Committee will reserve the right to encourage submissions and award early and mid-career nominees, or honour someone late in their career.

• If no nominations are deemed suitable, no award will be made.

Award Process

• The award recipient will be expected to make themselves available without fee to give a public presentation about their achievements in science communication at which the Fleming Medal will be publicly awarded.

• If the venue is at a significant distance from the award recipient’s home, the RCIScience will compensate for reasonable travel expenses. Alternatively, a virtual event may be held.