John Charles Polanyi Prizes 2020
2020

Polanyi Prizes Honour Ontario University Researchers

The innovative and ground-breaking work of university researchers in Ontario has been recognized with the award of the 2020 Polanyi Prizes, ranging from discoveries that could lead to game-changing advances in green energy, new ways to understand market forces, better mental health outcomes for those suffering from depression and new insights into the nature of the universe.

These prestigious prizes are awarded in honour of Ontario’s Nobel Prize winner John C. Polanyi, who won the 1986 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for his research in chemical kinetics.

“Ontario’s researchers represent some of the best and brightest in the world,” said Ross Romano, Minister of Colleges and Universities. “As Ontario continues to respond to the impacts of COVID-19, our research partners are crucial to the economic development and prosperity of Ontario, and the ongoing work to address new and pressing challenges in our communities. Recipients of the John C. Polanyi Prizes are tackling some of the most challenging issues facing our society and, in turn, continue to position Ontario as an international leader in research.”

“Their innovative work is an excellent reminder of why it is so important to support our researchers, the bright minds that are helping solve some of our most pressing issues, producing breakthroughs and creating a better future for students, our communities and the province,” said Steve Orsini, President and CEO of the Council of Ontario Universities (COU).

The Polanyi Prizes are awarded each year to innovative researchers who are either continuing postdoctoral work or have recently gained a faculty appointment. Each of the five winners receives $20,000 in recognition of their exceptional research in the fields of chemistry, literature, physics, economic science and physiology/medicine.

For more information about how the awards are administered, click the link below.

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Polanyi Prize in Chemistry
  • Dr. Graeme Howe, Assistant Professor, Department of Chemistry, Queen’s University
  • Dr. Marcus Drover, Assistant Professor, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Windsor
Polanyi Prize in Physiology/Medicine
  • Dr. Daphne Voineskos, Assistant Professor, Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto
Polanyi Prize in Economic Science
  • Dr. Roy Allen, Assistant Professor, Department of Economics, Western University
Polanyi Prize in Physics
  • Dr. Miriam Diamond, Assistant Professor, Department of Physics, University of Toronto