Jansky Lectureship Charter

2024 Jansky Lectureship – Call for Nominations

The Karl G. Jansky Lectureship is an honor established by the trustees of Associated Universities, Inc., to recognize outstanding contributions to the advancement of radio astronomy. First awarded in 1966, it is named in honor of the man who, in 1932, first detected radio waves from a cosmic source. Karl Jansky's discovery of radio waves from the central region of our Milky Way Galaxy started the science of radio astronomy.

The 2024 Jansky Lecturer will have made significant contributions related to radio astronomy, and will promote the appreciation of the science of radio astronomy through public lectures at the NRAO and GBO sites.  A demonstrated ability to engage a wide audience will be a factor in determining the awardee.  Visit the Jansky Lectureship website for a list of the previous recipients of this prestigious award.

Nominations for the 2024 award should be concise (~1 page) and address both the nominee’s contribution to the advancement of radio astronomy and their potential to increase public appreciation through the Jansky Lecture.

Nominations should be sent to by 29 March 2024.

NRAO and GBO Scientific staff will be given an opportunity to vote on nominations received and the results will be included in the recommendation to the NRAO Director.

Jansky Lectureship Charter

The Karl G. Jansky Lectureship is an honor established by the trustees of Associated Universities, Inc. (AUI) to recognize outstanding contributions to the advancement of radio astronomy. First awarded in 1966, the Lectureship is named in honor of Karl G. Jansky who first detected radio waves from a cosmic source.  In 2023 we celebrate the 90th anniversary of Jansky's discovery, announced in the paper he presented at the 27 April 1933 URSI meeting and with a front page headline in The New York Times on 3 May 1933.

The Jansky Lecturer will have made significant contributions related to radio astronomy, and will promote the appreciation of the science of radio astronomy through public lectures. A demonstrated ability to engage a wide audience will be a factor in determining the awardee. Visit the Jansky Lectureship website for a list of the previous recipients of this prestigious award.

A Jansky Lectureship Committee comprised of NRAO and GBO scientific staff, and chaired by the Assistant Director: Science Support and Research or by the NRAO Chief Scientist, will coordinate the process. Nominations will be solicited each year from the NRAO and GBO staff and from the astronomical community, and may also be put forward by the Jansky Lectureship Committee. Current NRAO, GBO and AUI staff and Trustees will not be considered for the Jansky Lectureship. 

From time to time NRAO may choose to encourage nominations in a particular field of astronomy, and if so will include a statement to that effect in the call for nominations.

Nominations will comprise a concise justification (~1 page) addressing both the nominee’s contribution to the advancement of radio astronomy and their potential to increase public appreciation through the Jansky Lecture. The Jansky Lectureship Committee may identify a shortlist of nominations received that best match the criteria for the award. The nominations received, or the subset thereof, will be put to a vote by NRAO and GBO scientific staff. Based on the results of that vote, and any priorities identified in the solicitation, the Jansky Lectureship Committee will provide between three and five outstanding candidates, together with the rank ordering from the voting process, for discussion with the NRAO Director. The final decision on the award will be made by the NRAO Director.

The recipient of the award will present the annual Karl G. Jansky Lecture in Charlottesville, Virginia, Green Bank, West Virginia, and in Socorro, New Mexico and will be encouraged to spend 1-2 days in Charlottesville, Green Bank and Socorro to interact with staff and students on a more scientific and technical level. Research symposia relevant to the awardee’s interests may be hosted by NRAO and GBO during the visits. The Jansky Lecture is intended to be of interest to members of the public as well as to NRAO professional astronomers and students and efforts will be made to encourage a broad audience. The Jansky Lecture will typically be focused in the area related to the awardee’s contributions to astronomy and is intended to increase public appreciation of radio astronomy and awareness of NRAO’s presence in the Charlottesville, Green Bank, and Socorro communities.

Connect with NRAO

The National Radio Astronomy Observatory and Green Bank Observatory are facilities of the U.S. National Science Foundation operated under cooperative agreement by Associated Universities, Inc.

Founded in 1956, the NRAO provides state-of-the-art radio telescope facilities for use by the international scientific community. NRAO telescopes are open to all astronomers regardless of institutional or national affiliation. Observing time on NRAO telescopes is available on a competitive basis to qualified scientists after evaluation of research proposals on the basis of scientific merit, the capability of the instruments to do the work, and the availability of the telescope during the requested time. NRAO also provides both formal and informal programs in education and public outreach for teachers, students, the general public, and the media.

The National Science Foundation (NSF) is an independent federal agency created by Congress in 1950 "to promote the progress of science; to advance the national health, prosperity, and welfare; to secure the national defense..."

AUI collaborates with the scientific community and research sponsors to plan, build, and operate cutting-edge facilities. We cultivate excellence, deliver value, enhance education, and engage the public.