Lifetime Achievement

Applications will open on 22 January 2024 and close on 28 April 2024.

This Award recognises those who have made significant contributions to the advancement of psychological knowledge, with an exemplary record of personal achievement along the way. 

The award includes life membership of the society, a commemorative certificate and £1000 to spend on furthering an area of research of the nominee's choice. 

Nomination criteria

Nominees:
  • Should be current or retired academics and researchers in any area of psychology
  • Do not have to be members of the society
  • Do not have to be resident in the UK
Nominators:
  • Need to have full BPS membership

Assessment criteria

Nominees should have:
  • An outstanding record of personal achievements in psychological research (this award is for lifetime achievement rather than a single contribution)
  • Significant contributions to the advancement of psychological knowledge

Nominees should also have demonstrated significant contributions beyond academia. This could include: 

  • A significant number of publications in scholarly journals, books and presentations at national and international conferences. 
  • A substantial contribution to Psychology through leadership (including the supervision of others). 
  • The promotion of the discipline through the development of research units/groups. 
  • Development of significant research collaborations both nationally and internationally. 
  • Sustained contributions to the work of the Society or other learned societies/professional associations, research funders, public engagement, policy influence etc. 

Judging

The Award sub-committee, made up of Research Board members, considers all nominations received.

Nominations

Nominators should:
  • Complete the nomination form to show how the candidate meets the criteria. 
  • Attach the candidate's full CV
  • Provide the names and addresses of three potential referees (the nominator should not be a referee)
  • Assume that the judges have no prior knowledge of the person and provide clear information and evidence of how they meet the criteria
  • Use active language and, where the nominee has worked as part of a team, make it clear what the individual contributed and how this differed from others

Conflict of interest

Nominators must declare all personal and professional conflicts of interest – e.g. if nominating a spouse/partner or other relation.  

Please note: a conflict of interest will not prevent acceptance of the nomination but will be borne in mind by the awarding panel when considering the award.

If we become aware of an undeclared conflict of interest, we regret that we will have to discount it. 

Nomination Form

Nomination forms must be completed and submitted online.

Submit a nomination here

The deadline for submissions is 28 April 2024.  

If you have any questions, please email [email protected].

Previous recipients

  • 2023: Michael Billig
  • 2020: Professor Robert Plomin
  • 2019: Professor Susan Michie
  • 2018: Martin Conway / Trevor Robbins
  • 2017: Richard Byrne
  • 2016: Celia Kitzinger
  • 2015: Glyn Humphreys
  • 2014: Peter Venables
  • 2013: Andy Young
  • 2012: Alan Baddeley
  • 2011: Colwyn Trevarthen
  • 2010: Alan Cowey
  • 2009: Uta Frith / Annette Karmiloff-Smith