Canadian Astronomical Society
Carlyle S. Beals Award
The Carlyle S. Beals Award was established by CASCA in 1981 in recognition of the groundbreaking research of the late C.S. Beals. The Beals Prize was originally awarded to provide a grant for travel to a General Assembly of the International Astronomical Union (every three years). In 1988, however, it was first awarded in its present form: to a Canadian astronomer or an astronomer working in Canada, in recognition of outstanding achievement in research (either as a specific achievement or as a lifetime of research). The recipient shall be invited to address the Society at its Annual Meeting. To be considered for the award, nominees must be current CASCA members in good standing.
An award is now considered every second year, in even-numbered years.
Nomination Requirements
The nomination package must be submitted entirely in electronic form to the Chair of the Awards committee and should consist of:
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A letter of nomination (see nomination guidelines). Nomination letters should be written in the third person, without reference to nominator identity, and without institutional letterhead or other identifiers. This ensures that self- and non-self nominations are not distinguishable.;
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The CV of the nominee
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All nomination documents should be in a single PDF document
In addition, three external letters of support (e.g., from international experts in the nominee’s field), sent directly to the Chair of the Awards committee (to ensure confidentiality of references). No letter should exceed three pages in length. No other material should be submitted.
2026 Carlyle S. Beals Award
Professor Babul is a world-renowned leader in physical cosmology, known for his work on the assembly, evolution, and physics of galaxy groups and clusters. He began his career in Canada, earning his Honours BSc in Engineering Science from the University of Toronto in 1985, and is currently a distinguished Professor at the University of Victoria. Throughout his career, Professor Babul has contributed to several ground-breaking discoveries which have reshaped the field of cosmology, including being one of the first to recognize that radiation from early stars and quasars could significantly influence the evolution of cosmic structures, spearheading the realistic treatment of black hole dynamics in cosmological simualtons, and timely investigations into nano-Hertz Gravitational Wave sources that have important implications for current (pulsar timing arrays) and future (Square Kilometre Array) astronomical facilities for which Canada is involved. Beyond his incredible track record of pioneering research, Professor Babul has trained numerous scientists, many of whom currently hold high-level positions in academia and industry, has made significant strides to expand diversity and inclusion in the field, and is an ambassador for Canadian astronomy on the world stage. Professor Babul exemplifies the highest standards of scientific excellence and leadership in the Canadian community.