The Eugene LaFond Medal

About this program

The International Association for the Physical Sciences of the Oceans (IAPSO) awards the Eugene LaFond Medal to an ocean scientist from a developing country who presents (oral or poster) in an IAPSO‑sponsored or co‑sponsored symposium at IUGG or IAPSO assemblies; the honor is a medal and citation (no monetary prize). Candidates must have received much of their education in a developing country (per IAPSO/UN classification), be employed or studying there, and have conducted the presented research mainly in a developing country. Prospective recipients should confirm eligibility by emailing a brief CV and presentation details to the IAPSO Secretary General (with a copy to the IAPSO President); session convenors may nominate when direct identification is not possible. A subset of the IAPSO Executive evaluates presentations at the meeting and selects the winner based on presentation clarity and quality and the contribution of the work to the science of a developing country, with joint‑authorship winners required to have made a significant contribution.