Annual Award · For Civilisational Science
The SFS Prize
Awarded to the scientist whose work most advances the long-horizon survival and flourishing of human civilisation.
The Purpose
Science in service of ten thousand years
The SFS Prize is awarded annually to a scientist, researcher, or team whose published work most materially advances the conditions for long-horizon human survival and flourishing. It recognises that civilisational science operates on timescales conventional funding rarely rewards. We fill that gap: one prize, one winner, every year.
€10,000
Plus permanent entry into the SFS Laureate record · Presented at Programme Day
Eligibility
Four dimensions. One prize.
Nominated work must address a problem whose solution materially changes the long-horizon trajectory of human civilisation — and should connect, directly or conceptually, to one or more of the SFS Engineering Blueprints. The prize spans four research dimensions:
Stellar & Energy Systems
Dyson swarm and sphere engineering · stellar physics · solar energy capture · interstellar medium navigation · star formation and longevity.
Propulsion & Construction
D-He3 fusion propulsion · nuclear thermal and pulse drives · antimatter concepts · in-space manufacturing · orbital mechanics.
Habitat & Continuity
Closed-loop ecologies · O'Neill cylinder biome design · long-duration spaceflight biology · population genetics at multigenerational scale.
Governance & Intelligence
AI safety and alignment at civilisational scale · signal-delay governance · distributed democratic systems for multi-planetary populations.
The Process
How the prize is awarded
1
Nomination
Self-nominations and third-party nominations accepted. The nominator completes a structured form: candidate, institution, the specific work, and its civilisational relevance.
2
Screening
The SFS Science Department produces a long list of up to 20 candidates, screened against the four criteria.
3
Jury Deliberation
An independent jury of five scientists deliberates across three structured rounds. Each juror scores every candidate independently; scores are aggregated.
4
Announcement
The winner is announced publicly on 26 September — the astronomical midpoint between Foundation Day and year's end.
5
Presentation
The prize is formally presented at the annual SFS Programme Day on 26 March. €10,000 is transferred and the laureate's work enters the permanent record.
The Jury
Independent. Expert. Permanent.
The jury consists of five independent scientists appointed by the SFS Foundation Board for three-year renewable terms, drawn from the relevant research dimensions. The jury operates independently of the founder and the Board in its deliberations.
We explicitly reward work whose impact is measured in centuries rather than quarters — work that is visionary, under-funded by current institutions, and built to last.
Nominations Open
The inaugural prize awaits its first laureate
Nominate a scientist whose work belongs in the long record. Initial nominations are reviewed in confidence.