Thomas Brennan Award for outstanding contributions to the teaching of astronomy in grades 9-12

Past Thomas Brennan Award recipients

Nomination Guidelines

Purpose

The Thomas J. Brennan Award of the ASP is given each year to an individual demonstrating excellence in the teaching of astronomy at the high school level in North America. The recipients will have demonstrated exceptional commitment to classroom or planetarium education, as well as the training of other teachers.

Eligibility

Nominees must be involved in activities relating to the teaching of astronomy at the high school level—in the classroom or planetarium, in teacher training, and/or by other appropriate means. Letters of nomination should highlight how the nominee has distinguished himself or herself in this endeavor and/or cite exceptional achievement. A summary of professional information relevant to the Brennan Award must be included with the nomination and support letters.

Nominations

Nominations are solicited from colleagues, students, or others familiar with or knowledgeable of the nominee’s achievements. Nominations received for the current year's competition remain under consideration for the two years following.

Due Date

Letters of nomination and the required materials must be received in the offices of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific on or before 1 January 2013.

Selection

The Award recipient will be selected by the Brennan Awards Committee appointed by the Board of Directors. If, in the opinion of the Committee, none of the nominees is sufficiently outstanding, the Award will not be given for the year in question. In February or March, the secretary of the Society will communicate with the nominee and, if the Award is accepted, it will be announced in the spring of award year.

The Award

The Award consists of a plaque and a check for $500 to be presented at the Annual Meeting Awards Banquet.

Submitting Nominations

Use the nominations form to provide all necessary information. Print it out and send along with your nomination letter and any other material by 1 January 2013 to:

Brennan Award Nominations
Astronomical Society of the Pacific
390 Ashton Avenue
San Francisco, CA 94112

Alternately, submit the nominations form online and send your nomination letters, letters of support, and any other information via email as attachments, to awards {at} astrosociety.org with the nominee’s name on the subject line.

Contact awards {at} astrosociety.org if you have questions or need more information.