🔍
☰
Applications are currently being accepted for The Royal Society Athena Prize 2026. Interested applicants are encouraged to click here to learn more about this opportunity and apply for it.
The Royal Society Athena Prize is a prestigious biennial award that celebrates teams whose work has significantly advanced diversity, equity, and inclusion in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).The prize recognises collective leadership and sustained impact, highlighting initiatives that have strengthened inclusive cultures within academic and research communities and delivered demonstrable benefits across the wider STEM ecosystem.
An official Athena Prize medal
A £5,000 monetary gift
This recognition helps amplify impactful initiatives and supports broader adoption of inclusive practices across STEM.
National and public visibility through the Royal Society’s communication channels
Who Is Eligible?
Eligibility for the Athena Prize 2026 is strictly defined.
Eligible Teams
Teams working within UK academic or research communities
Teams that have made a significant contribution to advancing diversity and inclusion in STEM
Teams whose work has achieved national or wide regional impact
Team Structure Requirements
Teams must be clearly defined
All team members must be named in the nomination
There is no limit on team size
Eligible teams may include:
University STEM departments or faculties
Project or programme teams
Teams leading a network (but not entire networks)
Who Is Not Eligible?
Previous individual or team Athena Prize winners may not reapply
Entire networks are not eligible as a single team
Members of the Royal Society Council or Athena Prize judging panel cannot submit nominations
Individuals who were part of a previous winning team may be included if they are now members of a different team.
Previously unsuccessful applicants are eligible to reapply.
One team member directly involved in the initiative submits the nomination.
The nominator applies via the Royal Society Medals and Awards nomination dashboard.
The nomination includes:
Full contact details of the nominator
Full details of the candidate team and all members
A supporting statement explaining the team’s suitability for the Athena Prize
Names and contact details of two referees
Referees may be contacted by the Royal Society for additional supporting statements.
The nomination must be submitted by 20 February 2026 at 23:59 GMT.
Apply for The Royal Society Athena Prize
