The Hamilton Award

The Hamilton Award is a quadriennial award, which will be given by the International Union for the Study of Social Insects (IUSSI) to a senior scientist in recognition of his/her accomplishments in the area of social insect research and the mentoring of young scientistshtml.

Eligibility - The award will be given to a distinguished senior scientist for outstanding achievements in the area of social insect biology.

Committee - The selection will be made by an Award Selection Committee composed of the presidents of the sections or their designees and the Secretary General of the IUSSI.

The 2022 Award

The fifth Hamilton Award was presented to Berthold K Hölldobler at the XIX International Congress, in San Diego, USA in July 2022. The award consisted of an engraved ornament, and a monetary award of US$ 1000, which Bert donated to the North American section of the IUSSI, to be used for four $250 travel grants for your researchers. The award was collected by Jürgen Gadau on behalf of Bert, who could not attend the meeting, and Christina Kwapich read out an acceptance address written by Bert.

The 2018 Award

The fourth Hamilton Award was presented to Jacobus (Koos) Boomsma at the XVIII International Congress, in Guarujá, Brazil in August 2018. The award consisted of an engraved ornament, and a monetary award of US$ 1000, which Koos donated to a new project to digitize the archives of the IUSSI.

The 2014 award

The third Hamilton Award was presented to Mary Jane West-Eberhard at the XVII International Congress, in Cairns in July 2014. The award consisted of an engraved glass ornament in the shape of a book, and a monetary award of US$ 1000, which Mary Jane donated to the IUSSI.

The 2010 award

The second Hamilton Award was presented to Charles D. Michener at the XVI International Congress, in Copenhagen in August 2010. The award consisted of an engraved glass ornament in the shape of a book, and a monetary award of US$ 1000, which Mitch donated to the Kansas Entomologial Society.

The 2006 award

The first Hamilton Award was presented to Ross Crozier at the XV International Congress of the IUSSI in Washington DC, August 2006. The award consisted of a plaque and a monetary award of US$ 1000