T. Brooke Benjamin Prize in Nonlinear Waves

Prize Description

The SIAM Activity Group on Nonlinear Waves and Coherent Structures (SIAG/NWCS) awards the T. Brooke Benjamin Prize every two years to one mid-career established researcher for recent outstanding work on a topic in nonlinear waves, as evidenced by a body of work with at least one significant publication in English in a peer-reviewed journal within the four calendar years preceding the award year.

Read the full prize specifications.

Eligibility Criteria

The candidate’s work must contain a significant contribution to the field of nonlinear waves, broadly interpreted in the spirit of the SIAG/NWCS conferences. One key paper must be cited as evidence of the contribution, though a body of papers may be discussed in the nomination. The prize is awarded to a researcher who has been in the profession at least 10 years and no more than 20 years preceding the award date. Candidates who have not worked continuously in the field are also eligible if they are at an equivalent stage in their career. The qualifying key paper must have been published in English in a peer-reviewed journal or conference proceedings within the four calendar years preceding the award year.

For the 2026 award, the candidate must have received their Ph.D. within the calendar years 2006 - 2016. The paper must have been published between the dates of January 1, 2022 – December 31, 2025.

Required Materials

• Nominator’s letter of recommendation for candidate
• Candidate's CV
• Bibliographic citation for candidate’s key contributing paper
• Two or three letters of support from experts in the field

About the Award

The T. Brooke Benjamin Prize includes a certificate containing the citation. SIAM will reimburse the recipient for reasonable travel expenses incurred in attending the award ceremony.

T. Brooke Benjamin (1929-1995) made seminal contributions to the subject of nonlinear waves and coherent structures throughout the latter half of the 20th century. Many key contributions central to the theory of nonlinear waves bear his name, along with the names of his many collaborators. He received his PhD in 1955, was elected Fellow of the Royal Society in 1966, held positions at Cambridge, Essex, and Oxford, and was appointed Sedleian Professor of Natural Philosophy at Oxford in 1979, a position which he held until his death in 1995. A biography can be found in J. C. R. Hunt. TBB Bio, Biogr. Mem. Fellows Roy. Soc. 49 39-67 (2003).

Learn more about the past recipients and selection committees.

Award Date

The prize was awarded in 2024 at the SIAM Conference on Nonlinear Waves and Coherent Structures.

Award Presentation

The Chair of the SIAM Activity Group on Nonlinear Waves and Coherent will present the award at the conference. An announcement of the award will appear in SIAM News.

Award Fund