Awards 2026

Beacon of the Year Award 

Beacon Application

• Nominations should be for an individual who is from an Ecsite member organisation.
• Contact details of three professional references from three different countries  are required to confirm your description of your nominee.
• We do not accept self-nominations.
• Please take time answer the submission questions fully as only the information you provide is used to score the submission
  
• It is not possible to save a partial submission but once you submit your application, you can go back and edit it at anytime up to the closing date.
• The in-person Awards ceremony takes place at the 2026 Ecsite Conference

Bright Spark Award

The Bright Spark is an Early Career Award for someone who shows significant promise and dedication in inspiring public interest in science demonstrated through an activity such as a project, outreach, media, public speaking, or the recipient of this award has shown a strong commitment to making science accessible, engaging, and impactful. The nominee should exhibit a commitment to science engagement, and innovative approach, potential for future growth and a collaborative spirit.

PRIZE: The winner receives €1,500 plus free entry to the 2026 Ecsite Conference, a certificate and an iconic trophy.

Bright Spark Application

• It is expected that senior management would nominate an early career stage individual, showing significant promise in their organisation.
• Early career is considered < 40 years old but other applicants will be considered for those new to our field, for example career changers.
• Applications are welcomed from Ecsite members and their teams and their nomination should be for an individual who works for an Ecsite member organisation.
• We do not accept self-nominations.
• Please take time answer the submission questions fully as only the information you provide is used to score the submission
• The in-person Awards ceremony takes place at the 2026 Ecsite Conference
  

Excellence Application

• All Ecsite members can submit an application or be nominated by peers
• Several Ecsite members can team up to submit a common application if they worked on a project together
• Any methodology/projects/initiative should have been created and designed in response to an emerging societal trend
• Please take time answer the submission questions fully as only the information you provide is used to score your submission
• It is not possible to save a partial submission but once you submit your application, you can go back and edit it at anytime up to the closing date.
• The in-person Awards ceremony takes place at the 2026 Ecsite Conference