Food Group Open Medal

The nomination form can be downloaded from the Awards section on RSC Food Group or obtained from the secretary via email here.  

The candidate’s agreement must first be obtained and the name of both a proposer and a seconder should be given. The proposer is responsible for completing the nomination form.

Nominations may be submitted by anybody familiar with the work of the candidate.

Nominees need not be members of the RSC but may NOT nominate themselves. Team nominations will be accepted, and the prize shared between the team.

Those in the following roles during the nomination or judging period are ineligible to propose, second, or be nominated:

• Division Presidents
• Awards Working Group members
• Trustees of the Royal Society of Chemistry
• Royal Society of Chemistry staff
• Selection committee

There are no career stage restrictions associated with this prize.

A person cannot receive multiple RSC awards for substantially the same body of work.

The RSC reserves the right to rescind any prize if there are reasonable grounds to do so. All proposers will be asked to confirm that, to the best of their knowledge, their nominee's professional standing is such that there is no confirmed or potential impediment to them receiving this prize.

Nominations close 15 October 2026

The selection committee will base their evaluations primarily on the overall quality of relevant contributions made by nominees and not on quantitative measures. The scientific content of any supporting publications is much more important than publication metrics or the identity of the journal in which it is published.

The selection committee will comprise at least two members of the RSC Food Group Committee and one independent assessor. The selection committee will consider the following aspects of nominations for this prize:

• Innovation in food chemistry
• Originality of research or work
• Impact on the food sector
• Professional standing
• Collaborations and teamwork
• Quality of publications and/or patents and/or software
• Other indicators of esteem and impact indicated by the proposer

In an instance where multiple nominees are judged equally meritorious in relation to the above criteria, judging panels have the flexibility to use information provided by the proposer on the nominee’s broader contribution to the chemistry community as an additional criterion. Examples of relevant contributions could include, but are not limited to:

• Involvement with Royal Society of Chemistry member groups/networks
• Effective mentorship
• Service on boards, committees or panels
• Leadership in the scientific community
• Promotion of diversity and inclusion
• Advocacy for chemistry
• Public engagement and outreach
• Teaching/demonstrating
• Peer-reviewer

The winner will be announced, and the award presented, at the RSC Food Group AGM and Symposium on 10 December 2026. The winner will be invited to talk about an aspect of their work at the symposium.