John A. Thornton Memorial Award/Lecture

About this program

AVS offers the John A. Thornton Memorial Award/Lecture to recognize pioneering research or technological innovation in areas of AVS interest—particularly thin films, plasma processing, and related topics—that significantly advances the state of knowledge or the art. The biennial award (given in odd-numbered years when a suitable candidate is identified) includes a cash prize (amount unspecified), a commemorative plaque, and an honorary lectureship at an International Symposium. Eligible candidates are individual researchers with well‑recognized, pioneering contributions in the relevant fields; nominators/supporters may endorse only one candidate per award per year, and current AVS Board of Directors and Awards Committee members are ineligible as candidates or as nominators/supporters.