For landmark observational campaigns and creative techniques that redefined the forefront of the field of galaxy formation and evolution. Using large telescopes on the ground and in space, Shapley has transformed our view of the spectral energy distributions of galaxies from the ultraviolet through the optical, helping us to understand the complex physical interplay between energetic radiation, ionization of gas, atomic excitation, line emission, metallicity, and dust. Shapley’s work has provided a deeper understanding of the cycle of galactic outflows and infall, star formation histories, and fates of galaxies across the mass spectrum.

For pioneering rapid multi-wavelength investigations of extreme explosions powered by stellar death, revealing ultra-bright short-duration optical flaring associated with the new class of fast blue optical transients.

Awarded jointly with Marc Pinsonneault

For the textbook Stellar Structure and Evolution (2023 Cambridge University Press). Pinsonneault and Ryden successfully incorporate innovative pedagogical features into this graduate-level text, emphasizing intuitive understanding through both qualitative and quantitative reasoning, with a clear and easy to follow progression of learning.

For her significant contributions to spectrographs and instruments at several ground-based observatories — including the Low-Resolution Imaging Spectrograph and Keck Cosmic Web Imager at Keck Observatory, the Shane Adaptive Optics Infrared Camera at Lick Observatory, the Baryon Oscillation Spectroscopic Survey instrument for the Sloan Digital Sky Survey, and the Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument on the Mayall Telescope — and for her critical leadership roles on these impactful instrumentation projects over her career.

For his five decades of innovative leadership of the historic Griffith Observatory, for the carefully woven exhibits and planetarium shows that have entranced millions of visitors and educated thousands of Los Angeles school students, and for his books and articles ranging from columns in Sky and Telescope to children's books to volumes on archaeoastronomy; all have served significantly to share his joy of learning about the cosmos with the public.

For his groundbreaking work on relativistic deflection due to microlensing as a tool to detect isolated stellar-mass black holes and to measure the masses of stars and stellar remnants.

For innovative theoretical work illuminating the dynamics of compact objects in dense stellar systems. A number of Kremer’s results have had a major impact across several subfields of astrophysics, including globular clusters, gravitational wave sources, and neutron stars.

For a lifetime of pioneering theories, numerical techniques, and simulations that underpin our understanding of galaxy formation, structure, and evolution, the formation of stars and supermassive black holes, and the large-scale structure of the universe; and for training and mentoring generations of early career astronomers.

Awarded jointly with Barbara Ryden

For the textbook Stellar Structure and Evolution (2023 Cambridge University Press). Pinsonneault and Ryden successfully incorporate innovative pedagogical features into this graduate-level text, emphasizing intuitive understanding through both qualitative and quantitative reasoning, with a clear and easy to follow progression of learning.

For pioneering the detection of white dwarf exoplanets and exomoons, and for developing innovative observing methods that open new windows into the diversity, evolution, and habitability of planetary systems.

For his exceptional leadership in astronomy and his pivotal role in establishing the Canadian Institute for Theoretical Astrophysics and the Dunlap Institute at the University of Toronto — world-leading centers for research and training. Martin has also provided major national and international service, including as president of the Canadian Astronomical Society, and significant contributions to public outreach through initiatives such as Mystical Landscapes, CoolCosmos, and the West African International Summer School for Young Astronomers.

For his pioneering work revealing the 3D kinematic velocity fields within planet-forming disks using the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) — work that has enabled direct comparisons to astrophysical theory of disk motions, facilitated measurements of the unknown gas pressure structure and mass of the disks, and provided kinematical evidence for hidden gas giant planets.