Paracelsus Prize
CHF 20,000 and medal in gold
The Paracelsus Prize is awarded to scholars who have produced outstanding scientific research in the field of chemistry at an international level.
Winners are chosen irrespective of nationality. SCS membership is not a requirement. Age plays no role in the selection process. There are no restrictions regarding the professional status of candidates.
It is awarded every two years;
Nomination for 2022
Nominations are invited from organizations and individuals. Self-nominations are not admitted.
A nomination must include:
- A brief curriculum vitae of the proposed nominee (max 3 pages).
- A list of 20 of the nominee's most important scientific publications.
- A nomination letter (statement of the research areas in chemistry on which the nomination is based).
- Not more than three seconding nomination letters.
The documents (language E/D/F) listed under 1-3 should be sent electronically as a single pdf file to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. (e.g. nominee name-paracelsus.pdf). Seconding letters should also be submitted electronically.
The deadline for all documents to reach the Swiss Chemical Society is September 30, 2021.
Past Paracelsus Prize Winners
2020: Prof. Scott E. Denmark, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign (USA)
2018: Prof. Ruedi Aebersold, ETH Zurich
2016: Prof. Michael Graetzel, EPF Lausanne
2014: Prof. Richard R. Schrock, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, USA
2012: Prof. Bernd Giese, University of Basel and Fribourg
2010: Prof. Steven V. Ley, Cambridge, U.K.
2008: Prof. Ben L. Feringa, Groningen, NL
2006: Prof. Sir Jack E. Baldwin, Oxford, U.K.
2004: Prof. George M. Whitesides, Cambridge, USA
2002: Prof. Martin Quack, Zürich
1999: Prof. A. Eschenmoser, Zürich
1996: Lord. J. Lewis, Cambridge, U.K.
1994: Prof. A. Cotton, Texas, USA
1992 : Prof. J. Halpern, Chicago, USA
1990 : Prof. R. Breslow, New York, USA
1988 : Prof. F.H. Westheimer, Cambridge, USA
1986: Prof. J. Dunitz, Zürich
1984: Prof. E.J. Corey, Cambridge, USA
1982: Prof. J.-M. Lehn, Strasbourg
Paracelsus-Medal (donation year 1939):
1976: Prof. E. Cherbuliez, Genève; Prof. G. Schwarzenbach, Zürich; Prof. V. Prelog, Zürich
1971: Prof. J.M. Robertson, Glasgow
1967: Prof. M. Eigen, Göttingen
1964: Sir C.K. Ingold, London
1959: Prof. H. Meerwein, Marburg
1955: Prof. R. Delaby, Paris
1953: Prof. 0. Hahn, Göttingen
1948: Prof. F. Fichter, Basel
1941: Sir R. Robinson, Oxford