2022 KARL W. BÖER
SOLAR ENERGY MEDALS
Honoring advancements in renewable energy
Karl W. Böer
The Karl W. Böer Solar Energy Medals are awarded every two years for pioneering advancements in renewable energy. These distinguished awards include a bronze medal and monetary prizes. Nominations are due January 15, 2022.
In 2022, two medals will be awarded for the first time—the traditional Karl Böer Solar Energy Medal of Merit, carrying a $100,000 prize, honoring a world-renowned individual who has made pioneering advancements in renewable energy as an alternative source of energy, and the newly endowed Karl W. Böer Renewable Energy Mid-Career Award, carrying a $25,000 prize.
The medals are named in honor of Dr. Karl Wolfgang Böer, a trailblazing scientist in the field of renewable energy who founded the Institute of Energy Conversion (IEC) at the University of Delaware. Since its founding in 1972, IEC has been a leader in photovoltaic research. It is the oldest solar cell institution in the world and a U.S. Department of Energy-designated University Center of Excellence for Photovoltaic Research and Education.
Dr. Böer, who passed away on April 18, 2018, at the age of 92, was a visionary scientist whose work led to significant progress in the field of renewable energy. The medals he so generously endowed through the Karl W. Böer Solar Energy Medal of Merit Award Trust, established at the University of Delaware in 1991, have become the most prestigious awards for the global solar energy community and now honor leadership in all forms of renewable energy. The first Böer Medal was awarded in 1993 to former President Jimmy Carter.
The Böer Medals will continue to honor those who have, through their vision and inventiveness, made enduring progress toward the evolution of a more sustainable future for our planet.
Karl W. Böer
Funding for the Awards comes from the Karl W. Böer Solar Energy Medal of Merit Award Trust which was set up at the University of Delaware in 1991. The Böer Medal has been awarded every two years with the first Medal awarded in 1993 to former President Jimmy Carter and the last Medal given out in 2018. The Boer Medal has become the most prestigious award for the global solar energy community and is now expanded to honor leadership in all forms of renewable energy.
In 2022, there will be two Medals awarded – the traditional Karl Böer Solar Energy Medal of Merit to honor individuals who have made significant, pioneering advancements to renewable energy as an alternative source of energy and the newly endowed Karl W. Böer Renewable Energy Mid-Career Award that will be awarded for the first time in 2022. These Medals will continue to honor those who have, through their vision and inventiveness, made enduring progress toward the evolution of a more sustainable future for our planet.
PREVIOUS RECIPIENTS
1993
President Jimmy Carter
1995
David E. Carlson
1997
Adolf Goetzberger
1999
Stanford R. Ovshinsky
2001
Allen M. Barnett
2003
Martin A. Green
2005
Yoshihiro Hamakawa
2007
Lawrence Kazmerski
2009
Hermann Scheer
2011
Richard M. Swanson
2013
Zhores I. Alferov and Viacheslav M. Andreev
2015
Antonio Luque
2016
D. Yogi Goswami
2018
Alex Zunger
2020
No award made
NOMINATION APPLICATION
The Awards
The 2022 Nomination
Karl W. Böer Solar Energy Medal of Merit
Cash award: $100,000
Purpose: The medal will be awarded to a world-renowned individual who has made significant pioneering contributions in solar energy, wind energy, or other forms of renewable energy as an alternate source of energy through research, development, or economic enterprise, or to an individual who has made extraordinary valuable and enduring contributions to the fields of solar energy, wind energy, or other forms of renewable energy in other ways.
Karl W. Böer Renewable Energy Mid-Career Award
Cash award: $25,000
Eligibility: Currently active and within 20 years of earning their highest academic degree
Purpose: The Mid-Career Award will be presented to an individual who is making significant contributions with promise for enduring impact in solar energy, wind energy, or other forms of renewable energy through research, development, or economic enterprise, or to an individual making extraordinary valuable and enduring contributions to the fields of solar energy, wind energy, or other forms of renewable energy in other ways.
Applications are no longer being accepted for 2022 nominations.
Guidelines
Award Guidelines
Download the Nomination Checklist and Application Preview- Nominations must be submitted on the form provided in this announcement. Please note that only electronic submissions of the nomination form and supporting documents will be considered.
- Everyone is eligible, without any discrimination by profession or discipline. The Award Committee seeks individuals of great distinction who by their research, development, application, economic enterprise, or policies have made or are making extraordinary contributions to the fields of solar energy, wind energy, or other forms of renewable energy that are recognized nationally and internationally.
- The nomination must be accompanied by a complete curriculum vitae of the nominee and the names, addresses, and phone numbers of up to five references. Do not send copies of the publications, nominee’s patents, press releases, or other materials.
- The medals and cash awards will be presented in 2022. Tentatively, the Award ceremony has been set by the President of the University of Delaware for May 3, 2022 with an appropriate ceremony to celebrate the occasion.
- Nominations, with accompanying curricula vitae and references must be received by January 15, 2022. No nominations for the 2022 medal will be considered after that date.
NOTE: Applications should be completed in one session as information is not saved until form is submitted.
Panel of Judges
The Award Committee
University of Delaware President Dennis Assanis (left) awards the Karl W. Böer Solar Energy Medal of Merit to solar scientist Alex Zunger on October 12, 2018. The award recipient is chosen by a distinguished international selection committee.
The Award Committee is composed of the presidents of the International Solar Energy Society, the American Solar Energy Society, the American Institute of Chemical Engineers, the American Physical Society, the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers, the director of the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, the U.S. Secretary of Energy, or their designated representatives, a representative of the Böer family, and the executive director of the Trust.
Award Ceremony
The Ceremony
A ceremony to honor the award recipients will be held at the University of Delaware on May 3, 2022.
Registration information and additional details coming soon.
Questions/information about these events, contact Dr. Neeloo Bhatti.
ASSISTANCE
Compliance Hotline
Phone: (302) 831-2792
Research Administration
Phone: (302) 831-2136
Fax: (302) 831-2828
HOURS OF OPERATION
The University of Delaware Research Office is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. The Research Office is closed Saturday and Sunday and observes all University closings and holidays. See the Academic Calendar for more information.