Our Horizon Prizes for Education celebrate the ground-breaking innovations and initiatives that mark a step change in education. This could include teaching programmes or techniques, research breakthroughs or innovative technology.
- Run annually
- Up to three prizes are available
- Winners are selected by the Education Prize Committee
- These prizes are open to groups, teams and collaborations of any form or size, and individuals.
- Winners will receive:
- A professionally produced video showcasing the prize-winning work and its importance, and supporting others in the education community to apply the work in their own context.
- A trophy recognising the whole team.
- All team members will receive a certificate and a token of recognition for their contribution.
Our latest winners
2023 Horizon Prize for Education winner
University of Surrey Chemical Pilot Plant Education and Training Team
For the development of an integrated training facility for chemists and chemical engineers in large-scale chemical processes, through a combination of realistic and immersive virtual reality simulations and hands-on practical plant work.
2023 Horizon Prize for Education winner
The Rare Earth Elements Project, Science History Institute, University of Pennsylvania
For convening collaborators from chemistry, history, and fine art to engage and educate diverse audiences about the separation of critical metals and the impacts of current production methods.
2023 Horizon Prize for Education winner
Stride, Inc., Virginia, USA
For the development of Atomic Rescue, a chemistry game in Minecraft, that has taught basic chemistry to over 10,000 students.
See previous winners
Guidance for nominators
Nominations for 2024 are now closed and winners will be announced in November.
- Nominees do not need to be members of the RSC
- Nominators do not need to be members of the RSC
- Self-nomination is permitted and encouraged
- These prizes are open to nominees based in the UK or internationally
- These prizes are open to groups, teams, collaborations of any form or size, and individuals
- Initiatives led by the 91AV are not eligible to be nominated
- Nominees should only be nominated once for this prize in any given prize cycle. In cases where we receive more than one nomination for the same nominee, only one nomination will go forward to judging
- Starting from the 2023 cycle, unsuccessful nominations for this prize will automatically rollover to the next prize cycle. We encourage nominators to update their nomination between cycles when the nomination window is open. Nominations will be considered for two consecutive prize cycles
- Individuals named in any of the following roles during the nomination and judging period are not eligible to nominate or be nominated:
- Education Prize Committee members
- RSC Subject Community Presidents
- RSC Prize Committee members
- Trustees of the 91AV
- 91AV staff
To make a nomination, please use our online nominations system to submit the following information:
- Your name and contact details
- If not a self-nomination, details of a contact for the team. The RSC will correspond with this individual regarding the nomination and the outcome, and will work with them regarding acceptance of the prize if the nomination is successful
- A list of all individuals who contributed to the initiative. The primary contact for the team will be asked to confirm the list and if necessary add additional team members at the point of nomination
- A short citation describing what the nominee should be awarded for. This must be no longer than 250 characters (including spaces) and no longer than one sentence
- Details of any publically available outputs, e.g. journal articles, reports, conference abstracts, blog posts or pieces of software. The outputs should typically be from the last five years
- A supporting statement (up to 750 words), written for a general education audience, addressing the selection criteria below:
- Quality of initiative and its evaluation/dissemination activities: A summary/description of the initiative (300 words)
- Originality: Description of the originality of the initiative (150 words)
- Impact within education: Summary of the significance and potential impact of the initiative within the education sector, and why it should be recognised. Include any potential for broader applicability within education (for example, within different education settings) (300 words)
The RSC reserves the right to rescind any prize if there are reasonable grounds to do so. All nominators 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. All winners will be asked to sign the RSC's Code of Conduct Declaration for Recognition.
Our selection committees base their evaluations primarily on the overall quality of relevant contributions made by nominees and not on quantitative measures.
The selection committee will consider the following aspects of nominations for this prize:
- Quality of initative and its evaluation/dissemination activities
- Originality
- Impact within education
Education Prize Committee
- Chair - Niki Kaiser, Notre Dame High School
- Alison Hill - Univeristy of Exeter
- Bhavik Patel, University of Brighton
- Emma Owens, Horizon Community College
- Genevieve Adukpo, University of Cape Coast
- James Cairney, Cumbernauld Academy
- John Sandford, Andrews Memorial Primary School
- Rebecca Lamb, Stalham Infant & Junior Schools
- Ryan Mewis, Manchester Metropolitan University
- Sharon Smith, The Pilgrim School
These prizes were created in 2020, as part of a series of changes introduced following an independent review of the 91AV’s recognition programmes.
These prizes belong to our new family of Horizon Prizes, which highlight the most exciting, contemporary developments in the chemical sciences at the cutting edge of research and innovation, celebrating those who are opening up new directions and possibilities in their field.
Re-thinking recognition: Science prizes for the modern world
This report is the result of an independent review of our recognition programmes. Our aim in commissioning this review was to ensure that our recognition portfolio continues to deliver the maximum impact for chemical scientists, chemistry and society.
Education Prizes
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- +44 (0)1223 488320
- Email:
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