The Microscopy Society of America (MSA) has a number of awards to honor achievements in microscopy. The series of Distinguished Scientist Awards and Burton Medal Awards began in 1975. For Distinguished Scientists, awards are made to individuals in both biological sciences and physical sciences who have had a long-standing career in microscopy or microanalysis. The Burton Medal recognizes scientists under the age of 40. Taken together there have been 117 awardees in these three categories.
More recently the society added the Morton D. Maser Distinguished Service Award, the MSA Outstanding Technologists' Awards in the Biological and Physical Sciences, and the George Palade and Albert Crewe Awards for outstanding postdoctoral research.
The above awards are selected on the basis of nominations submitted by members of the society. Eligibility details may be found on the MSA website: www.microscopy.org. The nomination deadline for the 2014 awards is November 15, 2013.
There are about three dozen student and post-doctoral travel awards sponsored each year by MSA to promote participation in the Microscopy & Microanalysis meeting in August. These awards are selected by the MSA president from the two-page paper submitted for the meeting. Previously these awards were called the MSA Presidential Student Awards and Post-Doctoral Awards, but in 2013 they were renamed Microscopy & Microanalysis Presidential Scholar Awards. Additional awards of this type are also sponsored by the Microanalysis Society and by individuals or organizations as memorial gifts. The Professional Technical Staff Awards are given to up to four professional staff, two each in the biological and physical sciences, who present a poster or platform presentation at the annual meeting. The winners of these awards are chosen by the chair of the Technologists' Forum from the two-page papers submitted for consideration.
In 2009, MSA began designating MSA Fellows to recognize senior distinguished members of the society who have made significant contributions to the advancement of the science and practice of microscopy imaging and analysis. The number of MSA members elected to Fellowship in any one year is restricted to no more than 0.5% of the total MSA membership. Nominations of individuals to this honor are accepted through September 30.
Honoring achievement in our field is important. Awards give stature to the society and inspire the next generation of microscopists. If you are an MSA member, please take the time to prepare a nomination for someone you think worthy.
