Society of
General physiologists

The Sharona Gordon Award for transformational leadership is given to an individual who has made a clear and sustained impact on improving equity and inclusivity in the fields of physiology and biophysics. The scientific enterprise is at its best when it welcomes and values diverse voices.  Leaders who innovate to advance representation, equity, and inclusion are eligible. The Award is conferred when notable contributions are put forward to SGP's Council for consideration. 

The Sharona Gordon Award was established in 2020 to recognize the important contributions that Professor Gordon has made in changing the scientific environment, including establishing standards of equity in the peer review process during her time as the editor-in-chief of Journal of General Physiology, developing mentoring networks for early-career scientists, disseminating information about harassment in academia, and standing up for inequities in the greater scientific community.

 Key characteristics of award winners may include:

• Demonstrates an active effort to improve the climate and culture within which scientific research is performed
• Works towards building awareness of equity, inclusivity and representation issues at all levels of science.
• Champions sustainable, long-term change that enhances the quality of science and the quality of life for scientists
• Develops and supports mentoring programs for early-career under-represented scientists  and/or diversity related educational or   professional development opportunities
• Stands up for inequities within the greater scientific community
• Contributes to the advancement of scientific research, but need not themselves conduct scientific research.

2023    Renae Ryan, University of Sydney
2022    Gabriela Popescu, University at Buffalo
2021    Miriam B. Goodman, Stanford University
2020    Karen G. Fleming, Johns Hopkins University