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Bruno Rossi prize

The Bruno Rossi Prize

The Bruno Rossi Prize is awarded annually in honor of Bruno Rossi "for a significant contribution to High Energy Astrophysics, with particular emphasis on recent, original work."

The prize includes a cash award totaling $1500, a citation, and an invited lecture by up to two recipients at a meeting of the Division. This is usually a plenary talk given at the winter meeting of the AAS. Rossi prize travel is covered by the  AAS Rossi fund, which covers full airfare, ground transportation, and two nights at the AAS for the presenters. Registration fees for the presenters are waived.

The 2025 Prize Winner: Maura Ann McLaughlin and Xavier Siemens

The 2025 Bruno Rossi Prize has been awarded to Maura McLaughlin, Xavier Siemens, and the North American Nanohertz Observatory for Gravitational Waves for finding evidence of the stochastic gravitational wave background, the first direct indication of the existence of binary supermassive black holes.

Citations of previous Rossi prize winners

Nomination Process

A nomination for the prize may be made by any member of the Division.  Selection of the prize recipient will be made by the full Executive Committee of the Division. Nomination of individuals (rather than teams) is encouraged.

The Deadline for nominations for the 2026 Bruno Rossi Prize is forthcoming.

Nomination Package

A complete Rossi prize nomination consists of the following items: 

  1. A Nominee Qualification letter evaluating the qualifications of the nominee/s and including a suggested citation.
  2. An abbreviated curriculum vitae (CV) for the nominee/s (please, no more than 5 pages).
  3. A publication list of important publications. Please include links for one or two with key relevance for the nomination.
  4. Up to three supporting letters may be submitted. These are optional and not restricted to members.

Submission of the Nomination Package

Nominations can be submitted using the Bruno Rossi Prize Nomination Form 

Nomination Period

Prize nominations generally remain valid for a period of three years, including the original year in which the candidate was nominated. For example, a person nominated in 2018 is eligible for the 2019, 2020, and 2021 Prize.

Selection

Selection of the prize recipient will be made by the full, unconflicted, membership of the Executive Committee of the Division.