The Carlyle S. Beals Award was established by CASCA in 1981 in recognition of the groundbreaking research of the late C.S. Beals. The Beals Prize was originally awarded to provide a grant for travel to a General Assembly of the International Astronomical Union (every three years). In 1988, however, it was first awarded in its present form: to a Canadian astronomer or an astronomer working in Canada, in recognition of outstanding achievement in research (either as a specific achievement or as a lifetime of research). The recipient shall be invited to address the Society at its Annual Meeting. To be considered for the award, nominees must be current CASCA members in good standing.
An award is now considered every second year, in even-numbered years. The nomination package must be submitted entirely in electronic form to the Chair of the Awards committee and should consist of:
- A letter of nomination (self-nominations are accepted). Nomination letters should be written in the third person, without reference to nominator identity, and without institutional letterhead or other identifiers. This ensures that self- and non-self nominations are not distinguishable.;
- The CV of the nominee
In addition, three external letters of support (e.g., from international experts in the nominee’s field), sent directly to the Chair of the Awards committee (to ensure confidentiality of references). No letter should exceed three pages in length. No other material should be submitted.
2026 Carlyle S. Beals Award
CASCA is pleased to announce Professor Arif Babul as the 2026 recipient of the Carlyle S. Beals Award for outstanding scientific achievement.
Professor Babul is a world-renowned leader in physical cosmology, known for his work on the assembly, evolution, and physics of galaxy groups and clusters. He began his career in Canada, earning his Honours BSc in Engineering Science from the University of Toronto in 1985, and is currently a distinguished Professor at the University of Victoria. Throughout his career, Professor Babul has contributed to several ground-breaking discoveries which have reshaped the field of cosmology, including being one of the first to recognize that radiation from early stars and quasars could significantly influence the evolution of cosmic structures, spearheading the realistic treatment of black hole dynamics in cosmological simualtons, and timely investigations into nano-Hertz Gravitational Wave sources that have important implications for current (pulsar timing arrays) and future (Square Kilometre Array) astronomical facilities for which Canada is involved. Beyond his incredible track record of pioneering research, Professor Babul has trained numerous scientists, many of whom currently hold high-level positions in academia and industry, has made significant strides to expand diversity and inclusion in the field, and is an ambassador for Canadian astronomy on the world stage. Professor Babul exemplifies the highest standards of scientific excellence and leadership in the Canadian community.
CASCA is delighted to recognize Professor Babul’s efforts with this award.
| 2024 | 
Julio Navarro |
Smoothed-particle hydrodynamics” (SPH) simulation technique” View Citation |
| 2022 |  Anthony Moffat |
“Massive star profiles” View Citation |
| 2020 |  Howard Yee |
“Observational Cosmology” View Citation |
| 2018 |  Mark Halpern |
“Modern Cosmology” View Citation |
| 2016 |  Chris Pritchet |
“The Progenitors of Type Ia Supernovae” View Citation |
| 2014 |  Harvey Richer |
“Globular clusters” View Citation |
| 2012 |  David Crampton |
“Carpe Lux. Beal’s Lecture 2012” View Citation |
| 2010 | Bill Harris | “Between Galaxies and Stars” |
| 2008 | Ray Carlberg | “Preliminary SNLS Third Year Results” |
| 2006 | Georges Michaud | “Atomic Diffusion in Pop II Stars, Globular Clusters and WMAP” |
| 2004 | Ernest R. Seaquist | “The Galaxy M82 – a Rosetta Stone for the Starburst Phenomenon” |
| 2002 | John Landstreet | “Magnetic Fields in Stars” |
| 2000 | Gilles Fontaine | “The Potential of White Dwarf Cosmochronology” |
| 1998 | Gordon A. H. Walker | “Challenges for the New Millennium: Some Persistent Astronomical Mysteries” |
| 1996 | J. Richard Bond | “Cosmic Background Anisotropies and Large Scale Structure: Past, Present and Future” |
| 1994 | Peter G. Martin | “Interstellar Pinball: A Sometimes Shocking Story of Excited Molecular Hydrogen” |
| 1992 | Rene Racine | “Support for Astronomy” |
| 1990 | Scott Tremaine | “Is the Solar System Stable?” |
| 1988 | Sidney van den Bergh | “Supernovae and their Remnants” |
| 1985 | Anne B. Underhill | |
| 1982 | John B. Hutchings |