About the Award

The Arctowski Medal is presented every two years to recognize outstanding contributions to the study of solar physics and solar terrestrial relationships. The Medal is presented with an award of $100,000, plus $100,000 to support research in solar physics and solar terrestrial relationships at an institution of the recipient’s choice. The Arctowski Medal was established in 1958 by the bequest of Jane Arctowska in honor of her husband, Henryk Arctowski.

Stuart D. Bale, University of California, Berkeley, will receive the 2025 Arctowski Medal.

Bale has revolutionized our understanding of the energization of and heat transport in the solar wind.

Bale’s seminal work includes the development and operation of space-borne experiments to study the plasma processes active in astrophysical, heliospheric, and magnetospheric systems. His work includes leading the development of novel spacecraft instrumentation used on the NASA Parker Solar Probe mission, which is advancing our understanding of the generation of the solar wind.

Stuart D. Bale 2025 Arctowski Medal Recipient Social

Bale’s research has had a significant impact on a broad range of plasma physics phenomena, including electromagnetic waves and instabilities, collisionless magnetic reconnection and shocks, electron heat conduction, and plasma turbulence.

Bale will be honored in a ceremony on Sunday, April 27 during the National Academy of Sciences’ 162nd annual meeting. The ceremony will be livestreamed.

Award History

The Arctowski Medal was established in 1958 by the bequest of Jane Arctowska in honor of her husband, Henryk Arctowski, a Polish scientist and explorer and internationally renowned meteorologist. The medal was first awarded in 1969 to J. Paul Wild in recognition of his many and comprehensive contributions to solar radio astronomy.

Previous recipients of the Arctowski Medal continue to achieve outstanding advancements in their fields. One recipient, Eugene Parker, has been honored with a National Medal of Science and was the first living person to have a NASA spacecraft named after him.

 

Most Recent Recipient
Stuart D. Bale
2025
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Award Types

Previous Award Recipients

David J. McComas
2023
Dana W. Longcope
2021
Michelle F. Thomsen
2019
Mats Carlsson and Viggo Hansteen
2017
Alexander J. Dessler
2015
John T. Gosling
2013