Prizes & Awards

Harry Lustig Award

To honor Harry Lustig and to recognize outstanding graduate-level research performed in the Four Corners states. The award, given annually, consists of a $1,000 stipend and a certificate citing the contribution made by the recipient. Finalists will be invited to present their work at the annual Four Corners Section (4CS) meeting, and the recipient will be decided after the finalists’ presentations. All finalists will receive some travel support, prioritized based on need, to the annual 4CS meeting.

About Harry Lustig

Harry Lustig spent his first career at CCNY, then “retired” to become APS secretary‐treasurer. Harry was important to the early days of the Forum on the History of Physics and helped establish the endowments for the LeRoy Apker Award, Joseph A. Burton Forum Award, and the Abraham Pais Prize for History of Physics. After APS, Harry "retired" again, this time to Santa Fe. His love for the area contributed to his instrumental role in the formation of the Four Corners Section, and he was very active in the affairs of the Section in its early days. Born September 23, 1925, in Vienna, Austria, Harry Lustig passed away March 17, 2011, in Santa Fe.

Establishment

The award was established in 2015 by the Four Corners Section to encourage graduate-level physics study and to honor the memory of Harry Lustig. Harry Lustig (1925-2011) is widely remembered for his academic achievements as a physics professor, Provost, and Vice President for Academic Affairs, City College of New York. At APS, he is also remembered for his contributions as secretary‐treasurer from 1985 to 1996 (simultaneously Acting Executive Secretary 1993‐1994) and for his instrumental role in the formation of the Four Corners Section (4CS).

Rules & Eligibility

The award is open to graduate students and others working in any area of physics covered by units of the APS. Candidates’ primary affiliation may be outside the 4CS, but they must be 4CS members. Candidates must be nominated by a non-student member of 4CS, and they must be currently engaged in the nominated research. The research must be at a graduate level and performed or supervised at a University or Laboratory in the 4CS. Undergraduate work does not qualify for this award. Candidates must hold a Bachelor’s degree, which does not have to be in Physics. A Ph.D. related to the work may not be officially conferred before the submission deadline. The Harry Lustig Award should be awarded to a single individual.

Nomination

Deadline: August 10th, 2025

Nomination packages should be submitted at this link by August 10th. Log in using your APS credentials, and then select new submission, Four Corners Section, and Harry Lustig Award. The package consists of the following materials:

1. A nomination letter from the nominator citing the candidate’s specific contributions to graduate-level work and the significance of those contributions. The nominator must be a non-student member of the APS and 4CS before submitting a nomination. In case a nominee is not specifically enrolled in a graduate degree program, the nominator must include an explanation as to why the nominee’s work is at the graduate level. If applicable, the nominator must certify when the nominee’s Ph.D. was officially conferred. The letter of nomination may not exceed two pages.
2. A supporting letter in addition to the nomination letter that may not exceed two pages.
3. An abstract of the work with a limit of 1300 characters and spaces, the candidate's full name, 4CS affiliation, and a title for the work.
4. A short description prepared by the candidate describing the work or accomplishment. The description may not exceed 1200 words and must include a title for the work.
5. A copy of the candidate's curriculum vitae.

Any 4CS member may submit one nomination in any given year.

Selection Process

Applications are evaluated primarily on the quality of the candidate’s work, including:

• overall scientific merit;
• creativity and originality; 
• the quality of the candidate’s written description of the work.

In addition the selection committee will consider the strength of the nomination and supporting letters;

• the involvement of the nominee in physics activities;
• publications resulted from the work;
• the significance and relevance of the work in a larger context.

Finalists will be notified via email by mid-September.

Finalists will be invited to present their research at the annual 4CS meeting. Presentations should be limited to the nominated research topic and accessible to a general physics audience. The length of the presentation is 20 minutes, including questions. The award recipient will be decided after the finalists’ presentations based on a combination of the quality of the work, caliber of the presentation, and responses to critical questions.

Support

We are pleased that the Harry Lustig Award has been endowed by gifts from family members and friends of Harry Lustig, as well as members of the APS.

For any questions about the nomination packet or eligibility requirements, please reach out to Cynthia Galovich (cynthia.galovich@unco.edu). For any technical difficulties or nomination platform questions, please contact the APS Honors team (honors@aps.org).

Nominees for and holders of APS Honors (prizes, awards, and fellowships) and official leadership positions are expected to meet standards of professional conduct and integrity as described in the APS Ethics Guidelines. Violations of these standards may disqualify people from consideration or lead to revocation of honors or removal from office.

APS Honors recognizes and celebrates the accomplishments of the global physics community. Guided by our core values, APS Honors encourages nominations that reflect the full range of talent, distinction, and experience in our field, and that we broadly canvass for professional achievement across diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and expertise.