About the Award
The James Craig Watson Medal is presented every two years for outstanding contributions to the science of astronomy and carries with it a gold-plated bronze medal, a $25,000 prize, and $50,000 to support the recipient’s research. The Watson Medal was established by NAS Member and prolific Canadian-American astronomer, James Craig Watson. Watson is credited with discovering twenty-two asteroids in his lifetime. He published many articles and wrote A Popular Treatise on Comets (1861) and Theoretical Astronomy (1868).
Jonas Zmuidzinas, California Institute of Technology, will receive the 2026 James Craig Watson Medal.
Zmuidzinas’s seminal work on novel detection technologies and instrumentation has opened new possibilities for astronomy.
Working at the intersection of astronomy, engineering, and physics, Zmuidzinas has developed ultra-sensitive detectors and innovative astronomical devices that are enabling the next generation of space- and ground-based astronomical surveys. His inventions include super‐conducting microwave kinetic inductance detectors (MKIDs or KIDs), a transformational technology enabling observations from millimeter to X-ray wavelengths, with applications ranging from the cosmology and exoplanet science to neutrino detection and synchrotron X-ray spectroscopy. He also developed and implemented terahertz heterodyne spectrometers that have been critical to studies of star formation, significantly expanding the scientific capabilities of the Kuiper Airborne Observatory and the Herschel Space Observatory.
In addition to his technical innovations, Zmuidzinas has provided key leadership and service to the astrophysics community. He has served on numerous study teams for next-generation facilities for astrophysics and held the roles of Chief Technologist at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory and Director of the Caltech Optical Observatories.
Watch him receive the award online during the 163rd NAS Annual Meeting on April 26th.
Award History
James Craig Watson was an astronomer, discoverer of comets and minor planets, and an NAS Member. The Watson Medal was first awarded in 1887 to Benjamin Apthorp Gould for his work promoting the progress of astronomical science. Gould was not only an astronomer, but also active in securing the establishment of the National Academy of Sciences. Among other contributions to astronomy, Gould mapped the stars of the southern skies. This four-year long endeavor involved the use of the recently developed photometric method, and upon the publication of its results in 1879, it was received as a significant contribution to science.
Previous recipients of the James Craig Watson Medal continue to achieve outstanding advancements in their fields. Two recipients have been honored with a National Medal of Science.
Most Recent Recipient
