Awards & Recognitions

The DEIS has a number of professional awards, listed below. To view previous winners and information on calls for nominations, check the homepage regularly for Awards-related news.

1. Thomas W. Dakin Distinguished Technical Contributions Award (first presented in 1978)

Description: To recognize outstanding, original technical contributions, as evidenced by their sustained impact in advancing the science and technology of dielectrics and electrical insulation.

Prize: Presentation of the Dakin Lecture at the plenary session of IEEE Electrical Insulation Conference, or another DEIS conference of the awardee’s choice, $5,000 honorarium (as of 2020) and a Plaque.

Funding: Honoraria funded by accrued interest from the Dakin Endowment, initially provided by the widow of Dr. Thomas Dakin, plus the IEEE DEIS and some Dakin Award winners; administered by the IEEE Foundation. If interest accrued is insufficient to fund the award, the society may provide the supplemental amount to achieve the $5000 honorarium. Plaque is funded by the IEEE Dielectrics and Electrical Insulation Society.  Travel costs are not covered.

Eligibility: Open to all.  Awardee selected by the DEIS ARC and voted on by the DEIS Adcom.

Presentation: Biennially, normally at the IEEE Electrical Insulation Conference or a DEIS conference selected by the Awardee.

2. Eric O. Forster Distinguished Service Award (first presented in 1979)

Description: To recognize outstanding contributions and sustained leadership in the advancement of the field of dielectrics and electrical insulation.

Prize: Plaque, $5,000 honorarium (as of 2021).

Funding: Honoraria funded by accrued investment returns from an endowment administered by the IEEE Foundation. If accrued income is insufficient to fund the award, the society may provide the supplemental amount to achieve the $5,000 honorarium. Plaque is funded by the IEEE Dielectrics and Electrical Insulation Society. Travel costs are not covered.

Eligibility: Open to IEEE Members. Awardee selected by the DEIS ARC and voted on by the DEIS Adcom.

Presentation: Biennially, at Conference on Electrical Insulation and Dielectric Phenomena or a DEIS Conference selected by the Awardee.

3. Steven A. Boggs Young Investigator Award (established 2018)

Description: To recognize young scientists and engineers who are involved in challenging topics in the field of dielectrics and electrical insulation (new materials, aging of materials or systems, testing, and diagnostics) and have reached the first significant results.

Prize: A plenary lecture to be given at any IEEE DEIS conference, a $5000 honorarium and a plaque. If the funds plus accrued interest run out, there will be no monetary prize.  Travel costs are not covered.

Funding:  Donations from the family, friends and students of Dr. Boggs, administered by the IEEE Foundation.

Eligibility: The IEEE Boggs Award is addressed to individuals with a minimum of three years and up to ten years of career experience in research, engineering or innovation after completing their Bachelor’s degree.  The Award is open to all IEEE members, and to qualified scientists and engineers outside of IEEE.  Awardee selected by the DEIS ARC and voted on by the DEIS Adcom

Presentation: Biennially.  The awardee will be given the Award at a fully-sponsored DEIS conference of his/her choice within one year of notification.

4. Caixin Sun and Stanislaw Grzybowski Lifetime Achievement Award (established 2018)

Description: IEEE Caixin Sun & Stanislaw Grzybowski Lifetime Achievement Award will be addressed to people with outstanding career in research, engineering or innovation with at least 20 year of experience in the field of high voltages or dielectric materials. The award is made biennially (every two years), consisting of an honorarium and a plenary lecture to be given at the IEEE International Conference on High Voltage Engineering and Applications (ICHVE).

Prize: Only One Allowable Recipient Selected Biennially. The award consists of an honorarium of $5,000 USD and a plaque given at ICHVE. Travel costs to the ICHVE are not covered.

Funding: Funded by an endowment supported by the Caixin Sun Foundation of Education of Chongqing University and managed through the IEEE Foundation. Unless the sponsor is willing to further fund this Award after the initial funds have been depleted, the Award will still be presented, but without any honorarium.

Eligibility: IEEE Caixin Sun and Stanislaw Grzybowski Lifetime Achievement Award is addressed to individuals with a minimum of twenty years in research, engineering or innovation certified by publications, patents and/or significant achievements. The prize is open to IEEE members, and to qualified scientists and engineers outside of IEEE. The award will be given only once to a specific individual.

Basis for Judging: For a nominee to be considered by the ICHVE Awards committee, their nomination must be supported by at least two IEEE members, who are required to submit supporting material to the ICHVE Awards Committee. The ICHVE Awards Committee members vote for the candidate most qualified based on publications, patents and/or significant achievements evidenced in the CV and support letters. If the ICHVE Awards committee votes that two or more candidates are equally well-qualified, then the DEIS ARC will vote on a single awardee using the preferential voting method. If no suitable candidates can be found, the DEIS ARC and DEIS AdCom will be so informed. The award should be given only once to a specific individual.

Presentation: The recipient of the award must present an Award Lecture, which will be presented at the next IEEE ICHVE.

5. Caixin Sun and Stanislaw Grzybowski Young Professional Achievement Award (established 2018)

Description: IEEE Sun & Grzybowski Young-Professional Achievement Award will be addressed to young researchers or engineers which are involved in challenging topics in the field of high voltage- or dielectric materials and reached the first significant results. The award is made biennially (every two years), consisting of a prize and a plenary lecture to be given at each IEEE International Conference on High Voltage Engineering and Applications (ICHVE).

Prize: Only One Allowable Recipient Selected Biennially. The award consists of an honorarium of $5,000 USD and a plaque given at ICHVE. Travel costs to the ICHVE are not covered.

Funding: Funded by an endowment supported by the Caixin Sun Foundation of Education of Chongqing University and managed through the IEEE Foundation. Unless the sponsor is willing to further fund this Award after the initial funds have been depleted, the Award will still be presented, but without any honorarium.

Eligibility: IEEE Caixin Sun and Stanislaw Grzybowski Young-Professional Achievement Award is addressed to individuals with a minimum of three years and up to ten years of career experience in research, engineering or innovation after completing their Bachelor’s degree. The prize is open to IEEE members, and to qualified scientists and engineers outside of IEEE. The award will be given only once to a specific individual.

Basis for Judging: For a nominee to be considered by the ICHVE Awards committee, their nomination must be supported by at least two IEEE members, who are required to submit supporting material to the ICHVE Awards Committee. The ICHVE Awards Committee members vote for the candidate most qualified based on publications, patents and/or significant achievements evidenced in the CV and support letters. If the ICHVE Awards committee votes that two or more candidates are equally qualified, then the DEIS ARC will vote on a single awardee using the preferential voting method. If no suitable candidates can be found, the DEIS ARC and DEIS AdCom will be so informed. The award should be given only once to a specific individual.

Presentation: The recipient of the award must present an Award Lecture, which will be presented at the next IEEE ICHVE.

6. DEIS Graduate Student Fellowships (revised 2001, 2011)

Description: To support graduate research in the area of insulation or dielectric phenomena of interest to the Society.

Prize: The number of Fellowships to be awarded is in the range of 2-5 per year. Each recipient receives an initial payment of $3k. The second and final payment of $2k is made once the recipient publishes the work at a DEIS conference or in a DEIS journal.  

Funding: Funded by the IEEE Dielectrics and Electrical Insulation Society.

Eligibility: Full-time graduate student. Selection by the DEIS Education Committee with the approval of the DEIS Adcom.

Basis for Judging: Formally submitted research proposal.

7. Golden Omega Award, IEEE Electrical Insulation Conference (first presented 1959)

Description: To recognize an outstanding contribution to leadership in science and technology.

Prize: Plaque

Funding: Funded by the Electrical Insulation Conference.

Basis for Judging: Quality of the leadership contribution to science and technology. Nomination process and selection in cooperation with the National Electrical Manufacturers Association (USA).  Awardee selected by the EIC Board of Governors

Presentation: Biennially, IEEE Electrical Insulation Conference.

8. John Tanaka Distinguished Leadership Award (formally the Insulation Hall of Fame Award), IEEE Electrical Insulation Conference (first presented 1975)

Description: To recognize outstanding contributions to the IEEE Electrical Insulation Conference.

Prize: Plaque

Eligibility: Nominees will normally have contributed many years of volunteer service with the EIC or the DEIS.  Awardee selected by the EIC Board of Governors

Funding: Funded by the IEEE Electrical Insulation Conference.

Presentation: Biennially, at IEEE Electrical Insulation Conference.

9. J. B. Whitehead Memorial Lecturer –IEEE Conference on Electrical Insulation and Dielectric Phenomena (first presented 1955)

Description: To recognize major contributions in the field of dielectrics.

Prize: Certificate, $1000 honorarium.

Funding:  the CEIDP

Eligibility: Open to all. Selection by the CEIDP Board.

Presentation: Lecture at the opening session of the annual Conference on Electrical Insulation and Dielectric Phenomena.

10. Hans Tropper Memorial Lecture, IEEE International Conference on Liquid Dielectrics (first presented in 1984)

Description: To recognize major contributions in the field of liquid dielectrics.

Prize: Plaque and Certificate

Funding: Funded by the International Conference on Liquid Dielectrics  

Eligibility: Open to all. Selection by the ICDL Board

Presentation: At the opening session of the International Conference on Liquid Dielectrics.

11. The Bernhard Gross Memorial Lecture, IEEE International Symposium on Electrets (ISE) (established in 2002)

Description: The lecture will be presented by a person, who, in the opinion of the Selection Committee has established an international reputation for sustained high quality research work in the ISE research field. The ISE research field is presently defined as comprising the following topics: (a) molecular electrets, especially those involving composite or novel materials, bioelectrets and photoelectrets; (b) thermally stimulated processes, radiation and field effects; (c) injection, transport and trapping of charge, polarization; (d) non-linear optics and electro-optical effects; (e) piezo-, pyro- and ferroelectric phenomena; (f) ferroelectric ceramics and thin films; (g) applications of electrets. In the future the session topics listed for the last and for the next Symposium in the ISE series may be taken as a broad definition of the ISE research field. Thus the lecture will regularly recognize, reward and stimulate high quality research in this important and constantly-evolving research field.

Prize: $1,000 and Certificate, every three years

Funding: The honorarium and cost of the production of the certificate will be covered by the ISE registration fees until a private endowment is established.

Eligibility: The nominee must have established an international reputation for sustained high quality research work in the ISE research field. There is no limitation on the time frame over which this reputation has been established, and there is no requirement for membership of learned/professional societies.

Basis for Judging: Sustained high quality research work in the ISE research field. Selection by the ISE Board

Presentation: At the Symposium Dinner. The lecture is presented immediately following the opening ceremony of each Symposium.

12. The Dilip Das-Gupta Memorial Award, IEEE International Symposium on Electrets (ISE) (established in 2002)

Description: The award will be given for the best oral or poster presentation by a young scientist or engineer during the Symposium. It will regularly recognize and reward high quality research in the ISE research field by a scientist or engineer in the early stages of her/his research career.

Prize: $1,000 and Certificate every three years.

Funding: The honorarium and cost of the production of the certificate will be covered by the ISE registration fees until a private endowment is established.

Eligibility: For the purposes of the award, a young scientist or engineer is defined as a scientist or engineer who has not reached the age of 35 years by the ISE commencement date. There is no requirement for membership of learned/professional societies.

Basis for Judging: The quality of the presentation, as well as that of the work on which it is based, will be considered by the ISE Selection committee. At any Symposium the award will be made only if the selection committee is satisfied that the best presentation (by a young scientist or engineer) is of a suitably high standard. Before the Symposium closing ceremony, any registered delegate may confidentially propose a winner of the award to the Symposium Chairperson. The proposal must be in writing and include a short justification. The Chairperson will pass on all such proposals to the Selection committee. Self-nominations are not allowed.

Presentation: The winner of the award will be announced during the Symposium closing ceremony.

13. IEEE DEIS Eric O. Forster Memorial Lecture, IEEE International Conference on Dielectrics (established 2018)

Description: The ‘Eric O. Forster Memorial Lecture’ is the opening plenary lecture of the biennial IEEE International Conference on Dielectrics (ICD). The lecture is organized in honor of Eric Forster. The lecture is awarded to scientists that are world-leading in terms of the originality, significance and rigor of their research in dielectrics, which is within the scope of the conference. Further, the awardee is recognized as someone with a track record of encouraging young people in the field of dielectrics, in the spirit of Eric Forster.

Prize: Biennial.  Only One Allowable Recipient Selected Biennially. Recipient receives plaque and/or certificate.

Funding: Funding will come from the biennial IEEE International Conference on Dielectrics (ICD).

Eligibility: IEEE membership is not required. The conference is held in Europe, most of the Eric O. Forster lecturers have therefore been European, and ‘leading-lights’ from the European community may be preferred. Basis for Judging: The speaker should be recognized as world-leading in terms of the originality, significance and rigor of their research, which is within the scope of the conference. It is expected that the speaker would be able to introduce her/his subject in a way that is amenable, interesting and engaging to students as well as to experienced researchers in the field. They should be able to present ideas well in English.  The Awardee is selected by the ICD Board

Presentation: The IEEE E.O. Forster Memorial Lecture will be held at the start of the IEEE International Conference on Dielectrics.

14. Caixin Sun and Stanislaw Grzybowski Best Student Paper Award (established 2018)

Description: IEEE Caixin Sun and Stanislaw Grzybowski Best Student Paper Awards will be given at each IEEE International Conference on High Voltage Engineering and Applications (ICHVE) fully sponsored by IEEE DEIS. Up to 10 best student papers will be awarded. The Awardees will be selected based on the submitted technical paper only.

Prize: Multiple Awards Given Biennially – Each recipient receives full prize. Each award consists of a subsidy of 500 US$ for a maximum of 10 awards. Only one person can receive the award per paper.

Funding: Funded by an endowment supported by the Caixin Sun Foundation of Education of Chongqing University and managed through the IEEE Foundation. Unless the sponsor makes additional donations, the ICHVE International Advisory Committee can opt to fund the Awards themselves from the conference budget once the original funds are depleted.

Eligibility: To be eligible for the award, a candidate student paper must be submitted by full time student (bachelor, master, PhD or equivalent). The student should appear as a first author of the paper. Moreover, the paper must be presented by the student at an oral / poster session of the ICHVE.

The award is open to DEIS, IEEE and non-IEEE members.

Basis for Judging: Final selection of the 10 best student papers will be made at the conference by the International Advisory Committee of ICHVE based on the selection made by the ICHVE Awards Committee.

Presentation: The winners will receive their awards at the closing session.