Frequently Asked Questions
1. Who can nominate Fellows?
There are two ways to be nominated for election to the RSC:
- By a current Fellow
- By an Institutional Member
2. Can letters of nomination or reference be signed by more than one person?
No.
3. How does the primary nominator decide in which discipline to nominate a candidate, if the discipline is not included on the RSC list?
The primary nominator determines in which discipline to nominate a candidate. The discipline should be the one that most closely matches the candidate’s work. The list of possible disciplines can be found here.
4. How does the choice of discipline affect the selection process?
The selection process is based on review by multidisciplinary committees that group together specific disciplines. Each nomination file will be adjudicated in the Divisional Committee that includes the discipline chosen by the primary nominator. The list of Divisional Committees can be found here.
5. What makes a nomination stand out?
Excellence and impact are the fundamental and most important characteristics of a nomination. The scholarly originality, impact, and expertise of the referees are critical factors in making the case for candidates.
6. Should nominations make reference to teaching awards or administrative appointments?
Include reference to teaching awards or administrative appointments only to the extent that they have directly contributed to exceptional achievement.
7. Can nominators act as referees for a candidate they have nominated?
No.
8. What makes a good reference?
Referees should be outstanding in their own right, with significant national and international reputations. They should be experts in the candidate’s field. They should have direct knowledge of the candidate’s work and be able to describe the significance, impact and originality of the candidate’s career. International referees are valued, as the nominee’s national and international reputation is a primary determinant.
9. How technical or field-specific is the selection process?
As the nomination advances through the process, the selection becomes less and less specific to the candidate’s research speciality. This is why it is important to describe the candidate’s work in non-technical, readable prose. For example, a researcher specializing in bird behaviour might have a nomination dossier with letters of reference from other bird researchers. This dossier might initially be evaluated by colleagues in animal biology, then by a committee in the Biological Sciences Division. It would then go to the Academy of Science, to be voted on by all Fellows in that division.
10. Does the RSC provide feedback on dossiers that did not make the cut?
The RSC does not provide feedback on nominations that are unsuccessful.
11. For how long is my nomination file valid?
A nomination dossier is valid for one competition. The Primary Nominator of an unsuccessful nomination is contacted during the summer months.