Eligibility Requirements
Evaluation Criteria
Eligibility Requirements
The nominee shall have a minimum of 10 years of experience in the field of Physics1 and be a full member in good standing at the time of the nomination with any of:2
(a) a continuous membership of five years (including the current year of nomination); or
(b) a minimum of 6 of the previous 10 years as a member of the CAP; or
(c) a minimum of 10 of the previous 20 years as a member of the CAP.
Anyone who is considering submitting a nomination but is unsure whether the nominee meets the membership requirement may contact the CAP membership coordinator (membership@cap.ca) to confirm membership eligibility.
Evaluation Criteria
The CAP may confer the FCAP Award on any CAP member (in good standing) who has made significant contributions in two of the following four categories:
- service to the CAP or the Canadian physics community, including physics outreach
- a demonstrated body of work showing noteworthy contributions to physics research and development while working in Canada.
- a demonstrated body of work showing significant contributions to the professional practice of physics, applied and private sector physics.
- educational activities and/or mentorship, particularly training of physics HQP.
Nominees meeting the above eligibility requirements who are nominated for the FCAP award will be evaluated by the FCAP Selection Committee according to the following four, equally weighted, categories. Each individual is expected to have significant contributions that set them apart from their peers in two categories to be eligible for the award.
Service to the CAP or the Canadian Physics community, including physics outreach
Nominees will be evaluated on their service to the CAP or the Canadian physics community. Contributions will include but are not limited to roles and activities such as:
- Participation in activities to promote equity, inclusivity and diversity in physics including, but not limited to, developing community-building activities.
- Serving as a member of the CAP or CAP Foundation Board, as a Committee Chair, as a Member of the CAP Council or as the Executive of a CAP Division.
- Involvement in the planning or execution of the CAP Congress, such as Chair, Co-Chair or Member of the Scientific or Local Organising Committees, or participating as Judge or Session/Section Chair.
- PiC Editor, Associate Editor, or guest editor.
- Equivalent service in a related Canadian physics society.
- Equivalent service to a journal in which Canadian physicists regularly publish.
- Serving as a judge at local, provincial, or national science fairs.
- Significant contribution to outreach initiatives.
Contributions to physics-related research and development while working in Canada
Nominees will be evaluated on their scientific and technical contributions in physics research and development.3 The basis for this evaluation will be the nominee’s contributions including but not limited to the following:
- Evidence of significant scientific and technical accomplishments in research and development. This can include such things as the development of physics research facilities and capabilities (an example would be the development of low background facilities and assay techniques for laboratory projects).
- The value and impact of all research outputs (including datasets and software) in addition to research publications; consideration will be given to a broad range of impact measures including qualitative indicators of research impact, such as influence on policy and practice.3
- Invited conference presentations and invited colloquia and seminars.
- Honours, citations, certificates, awards, and other recognition for their research.
- Other evidence of research contributions and the impact that set this nominee apart from their peers
Contributions to the professional practice of physics, applied and private sector physics
Nominees will be evaluated for their service and contributions to the professional practice of physics, applied, and private sector physics through accomplishments in areas such as, but not limited to, the following:
- Activities in support of professional certification.
- Evidence of significant clinical, entrepreneurial, or scientific management in the field of physics.
- Voluntary work that promotes the physics profession.
- Evidence of service to the physics community as an editor, manuscript, or grant reviewer.
- Significant contributions to the international physics community.
- Service to other Canadian societies in related fields.
- Membership on national and international physics-related committees, such as Fellowship or Prize selection committees, or Standards or Technology Assessments.
- Participation in activities to raise visibility and support for physics within governments or other governing/funding bodies.
- Participation in activities to promote equity and inclusion in physics.
- Honours, citations, certificates, awards and other recognition for professional excellence.
- Other evidence of professional contributions.
Contributions to physics outreach or educational activities and/or mentorship, particularly training of physics Highly Qualified Personnel (HQP)
Nominees will be evaluated for their service and contributions to the education, mentoring, and/or training of physicists and related professions by activities such as, but not limited to, the following:
- Evidence of significant contributions to physics (or physics-related) education.
- Employment as a professor, lecturer, or teacher of physics or physics-related subjects.
- Leadership roles in the development and/or management of a physics graduate or undergraduate program.
- Supervision of students at all levels of their education (undergraduate, graduate and postdoctoral fellows) as well as residents/trainees, particularly where such students/residents have won awards or excelled in their careers as physicists.
- Mentorship of students, junior faculty members, staff, colleagues, or others within the Canadian physics community to assist them on their career path.
- Participation in activities to promote equity and inclusion in physics, including mentoring or developing programs that support underrepresented members of the physics community.
- Significant contributions to training workshops and educational symposia.
- Supporting graduate and undergraduate student participation at scientific conferences.
- Development of specialized courses, training workshops or related activities.
- Honours, citations, certificates, awards and other recognition for educational excellence.
- Other evidence of educational, mentorship and outreach contributions.
Continue to Fellows Nomination Procedures
1The FCAP Awards Oversight Committee is responsible for determining whether a nominee meets the experience eligibility requirement before the nomination is submitted to the Selection Committee for consideration.
2The CAP Office is responsible for determining whether a nominee meets the membership eligibility requirement before the nomination is submitted to the Selection Committee for consideration.
3See NSERC’s Guidelines on assessment of contributions to research for guidance.