# Dannie Heineman Prize for Astrophysics

The **Dannie Heineman Prize for Astrophysics** is an annual award given jointly by the [American Institute of Physics](https://www.edgepedia.org/american-institute-of-physics) (AIP) and the American Astronomical Society (AAS) to recognize outstanding mid-career work in astrophysics. It consists of a certificate and $10,000, funded by the Heineman Foundation, and is presented at one of the semi-annual meetings of the AAS, where the recipient delivers a lecture on the work for which the prize was awarded.<sup>[1](https://www.aip.org/aip/awards/heineman-astrophysics-prize)</sup><sup> • </sup><sup>[2](https://aas.org/grants-and-prizes/dannie-heineman-prize-astrophysics)</sup>

| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Established | 1979, by the Heineman Foundation for Research, Education, Charitable and Scientific Purposes, Inc.; the AAS joined with AIP in 1978 to create the award<sup>[1](https://www.aip.org/aip/awards/heineman-astrophysics-prize)</sup><sup> • </sup><sup>[2](https://aas.org/grants-and-prizes/dannie-heineman-prize-astrophysics)</sup> |
| Award | $10,000 and a certificate citing the recipient's contributions, plus travel expenses to the award meeting<sup>[3](https://www.aip.org/aip/alice-shapley-wins-2026--heineman-astrophysics-prize)</sup> |
| Career stage | Mid-career: nominees must have 10–20 years as a professional astronomer<sup>[2](https://aas.org/grants-and-prizes/dannie-heineman-prize-astrophysics)</sup> |
| Eligibility | No restrictions on citizenship or country of residence; self-nominations are allowed<sup>[1](https://www.aip.org/aip/awards/heineman-astrophysics-prize)</sup><sup> • </sup><sup>[2](https://aas.org/grants-and-prizes/dannie-heineman-prize-astrophysics)</sup> |
| Selection | A six-member committee chooses the recipient; nomination deadline is 30 June<sup>[1](https://www.aip.org/aip/awards/heineman-astrophysics-prize)</sup><sup> • </sup><sup>[2](https://aas.org/grants-and-prizes/dannie-heineman-prize-astrophysics)</sup> |
| Most recent recipient | Alice Shapley (2026), for observational work on galaxy formation and evolution<sup>[2](https://aas.org/grants-and-prizes/dannie-heineman-prize-astrophysics)</sup> |
| Distinct from | The Dannie Heineman Prize for Mathematical Physics, established 1959 and administered by the American Physical Society and AIP<sup>[4](https://www.aps.org/funding-recognition/prize/dannie-heineman)</sup> |

## Purpose and criteria

The prize recognizes an individual who has made a series of major contributions to astronomy and/or astrophysics, with the AAS stating that it was established to recognize outstanding mid-career work in the field.<sup>[2](https://aas.org/grants-and-prizes/dannie-heineman-prize-astrophysics)</sup> Nominees should show high impact on their field through publications, teaching, leading or playing a significant role in major research efforts, or developing major software tools.<sup>[2](https://aas.org/grants-and-prizes/dannie-heineman-prize-astrophysics)</sup> The mid-career window is defined as 10–20 years of professional experience as an astronomer, and nominees must show significant impact through publications, teaching, research, and related efforts.<sup>[2](https://aas.org/grants-and-prizes/dannie-heineman-prize-astrophysics)</sup><sup> • </sup><sup>[5](https://newsroom.ucla.edu/releases/alice-shapley-receives-dannie-heineman-prize-astrophysics)</sup>

**Selection and presentation.** No restrictions are placed on a candidate's citizenship or country of residency. A committee of six selects the winner, and the award is presented during one of the AAS's twice-yearly meetings, where the honoree is asked to give a talk on the work that earned the prize. Travel expenses are reimbursed by AIP from Heineman Foundation funds.<sup>[1](https://www.aip.org/aip/awards/heineman-astrophysics-prize)</sup> Nominations, including self-nominations, are due by 30 June.<sup>[2](https://aas.org/grants-and-prizes/dannie-heineman-prize-astrophysics)</sup>

## History and funding

The American Astronomical Society joined with the American Institute of Physics in 1978 to award a prize recognizing a series of major contributions to astronomy and/or astrophysics, and the prize was established in 1979 by the Heineman Foundation for Research, Education, Charitable and Scientific Purposes, Inc.<sup>[1](https://www.aip.org/aip/awards/heineman-astrophysics-prize)</sup><sup> • </sup><sup>[2](https://aas.org/grants-and-prizes/dannie-heineman-prize-astrophysics)</sup> It is named after Dannie N. Heineman, an engineer, business executive, and philanthropic sponsor of the sciences.<sup>[1](https://www.aip.org/aip/awards/heineman-astrophysics-prize)</sup> The foundation itself was established in 1948 by Dannie and Hettie Heineman as a 501(c)(3) organization that provides seed money to start-up and new projects.<sup>[6](https://heinemanfoundation.org/)</sup>

The prize should not be confused with the [Dannie Heineman Prize for Mathematical Physics](https://www.edgepedia.org/dannie-heineman-prize-for-mathematical-physics), which was established in 1959 by the same foundation and is administered jointly by the [American Physical Society](https://www.edgepedia.org/american-physical-society) and AIP.<sup>[4](https://www.aps.org/funding-recognition/prize/dannie-heineman)</sup>

## Recent recipients

The prize has honored work across a broad range of astrophysics, from cosmology and galaxy evolution to stellar physics and planetary science. Recent awards include:<sup>[2](https://aas.org/grants-and-prizes/dannie-heineman-prize-astrophysics)</sup>

- **2026** – Alice Shapley, for observational work on galaxy formation and evolution<sup>[2](https://aas.org/grants-and-prizes/dannie-heineman-prize-astrophysics)</sup>
- **2025** – Priyamvada Natarajan, for contributions to understanding dark matter substructure in galaxy clusters and the formation and fueling of black holes<sup>[2](https://aas.org/grants-and-prizes/dannie-heineman-prize-astrophysics)</sup>
- **2024** – [John Carlstrom](https://www.edgepedia.org/john-carlstrom), for pioneering work on microwave interferometry and a leading role in developing the [South Pole Telescope](https://www.edgepedia.org/south-pole-telescope)<sup>[2](https://aas.org/grants-and-prizes/dannie-heineman-prize-astrophysics)</sup>
- **2023** – Karen Meech, for pioneering work in small-body solar-system observational science<sup>[2](https://aas.org/grants-and-prizes/dannie-heineman-prize-astrophysics)</sup>
- **2022** – [Norman Murray](https://www.edgepedia.org/norman-murray), for theoretical insight into planetary-system dynamics, accretion disk winds, and star formation and feedback in galaxies<sup>[2](https://aas.org/grants-and-prizes/dannie-heineman-prize-astrophysics)</sup>
- **2021** – Robert Lupton and David Weinberg (shared), for contributions to transformative science from large-scale optical surveys, in particular the Sloan Digital Sky Survey<sup>[2](https://aas.org/grants-and-prizes/dannie-heineman-prize-astrophysics)</sup>
- **2020** – Christopher Kochanek, for combining observations and theory on topics including gravitational lenses, dark matter halos, and quasar accretion disks<sup>[2](https://aas.org/grants-and-prizes/dannie-heineman-prize-astrophysics)</sup>
- **2019** – Edwin (Ted) Bergin, for pioneering work in astrochemistry and the physics and chemistry of star and planet formation<sup>[2](https://aas.org/grants-and-prizes/dannie-heineman-prize-astrophysics)</sup>
- **2018** – Vicky Kalogera, for contributions to understanding compact objects in binary systems and their electromagnetic and gravitational wave signals<sup>[2](https://aas.org/grants-and-prizes/dannie-heineman-prize-astrophysics)</sup>
- **2017** – Lars Bildsten, for observationally grounded theoretical modeling of stellar structure, evolution, compact objects, and stellar explosions<sup>[2](https://aas.org/grants-and-prizes/dannie-heineman-prize-astrophysics)</sup>
- **2016** – Wendy L. Freedman, for improving the accuracy of the cosmic distance scale using Cepheid variable star observations<sup>[2](https://aas.org/grants-and-prizes/dannie-heineman-prize-astrophysics)</sup>
- **2015** – Marc Kamionkowski and David N. Spergel, for contributions to the investigation of cosmic microwave background fluctuations<sup>[2](https://aas.org/grants-and-prizes/dannie-heineman-prize-astrophysics)</sup>
- **2014** – Piero Madau, for contributions to understanding the era of first light, the intergalactic medium, and galaxy formation and evolution<sup>[2](https://aas.org/grants-and-prizes/dannie-heineman-prize-astrophysics)</sup>
- **2013** – Rachel Somerville, for insights into galaxy formation using semi-analytic modeling, simulations, and observations<sup>[2](https://aas.org/grants-and-prizes/dannie-heineman-prize-astrophysics)</sup>
- **2012** – Chryssa Kouveliotou, for accomplishments in gamma ray bursts, soft gamma repeaters, and magnetars<sup>[2](https://aas.org/grants-and-prizes/dannie-heineman-prize-astrophysics)</sup>
- **2011** – Robert P. Kirshner, for sustained contributions to the understanding of supernovae and cosmology<sup>[2](https://aas.org/grants-and-prizes/dannie-heineman-prize-astrophysics)</sup>

The 2026 award to Shapley, a UCLA professor cited for research into the origin and development of galaxies, will be presented at the 249th AAS Meeting, January 10–14, 2027, in [Salt Lake City](https://www.edgepedia.org/salt-lake-city), Utah.<sup>[3](https://www.aip.org/aip/alice-shapley-wins-2026--heineman-astrophysics-prize)</sup><sup> • </sup><sup>[5](https://newsroom.ucla.edu/releases/alice-shapley-receives-dannie-heineman-prize-astrophysics)</sup>

## References

1. [Dannie Heineman Astrophysics Prize, American Institute of Physics](https://www.aip.org/aip/awards/heineman-astrophysics-prize)
2. [Dannie Heineman Prize for Astrophysics, American Astronomical Society](https://aas.org/grants-and-prizes/dannie-heineman-prize-astrophysics)
3. [Alice Shapley Wins 2026 Dannie Heineman Prize for Astrophysics, AIP](https://www.aip.org/aip/alice-shapley-wins-2026--heineman-astrophysics-prize)
4. [Dannie Heineman Prize for Mathematical Physics, American Physical Society](https://www.aps.org/funding-recognition/prize/dannie-heineman)
5. [Alice Shapley receives the Dannie Heineman Prize for Astrophysics, UCLA Newsroom](https://newsroom.ucla.edu/releases/alice-shapley-receives-dannie-heineman-prize-astrophysics)
6. [The Heineman Foundation](https://heinemanfoundation.org/)

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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Physical world and mathematics › Physics › Physics methods, practice, and community › Physics publications, awards, and institutions › Physics awards and prizes › Other physics prizes and medals › Subfield-specific physics prizes*

*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 15, 2026 · Edited: Oct 11, 2026; Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 15, 2026*

*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*

License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license