Arthur B.C. Walker II Award

Arthur B.C. Walker II Award

The Arthur B.C. Walker II Award, established in 2016, honors an outstanding African American (or member of the African Diaspora) whose research and/or educational efforts substantially contribute to the fields of astronomy, astrophysics, space, or related sciences. The scientist is also recognized as a leader with a strong commitment to mentoring students from underrepresented groups pursuing degrees in astronomy and/or has been instrumental in creating or supporting innovative and successful STEM programs designed to support underrepresented students or their teachers.

The Award also includes an Arthur B.C. Walker II Scholarship which the recipient gives to a student of their choice in support of the student’s academic career goals.

Dr. Dara J. Norman to receive the 2026 Arthur B.C. Walker II Award given for outstanding achievement in astronomy and commitment to promoting diversity and inclusion in STEM by an African American scientist.

Daly City, California - September 3, 2026 - The Arthur B.C. Walker Award honors an African American scientist whose research has substantially contributed to astronomy or related fields, and who has demonstrated a substantial commitment to promoting diversity and inclusion in STEM. The 2026 recipient of the Arthur B.C. Walker II Award is Dr. Dara J. Norman, Director of the Community Science & Data Center (CSDC) at the National Science Foundation’s National Optical-Infrared Astronomy Research Laboratory (NOIRLab) for her scientific contributions, visionary leadership, and her commitment to broadening participation in astronomy and related sciences.

A renowned observational astronomer, Dr. Norman’s early career research began as a graduate student at Washington University. Her continued post-doc research with the National Science Foundation and the National Optical Astronomy Observatory led to the understanding of how very distant active galaxies and quasars observed in deep sky surveys are magnified by the gravitational lensing of massive galaxies in the foreground.

Using statistical gravitational lensing, Norman was able to show that our understanding of distance structures and quasars is significantly influenced by the mass of clusters of galaxies that reside closer by.  Her work provided constraints on how observers are biased in our understanding of the distant universe because of foreground structures.  This theme of understanding and mitigating bias extends into other parts of her research and work. As one nominator wrote, “Dr. Norman’s record of achievement in astronomy is distinguished, wide-ranging, and deeply influential. Her research has advanced our understanding of large-scale structure in the universe, active galactic nuclei, and galaxy evolution.”

Beyond her scientific accomplishments, Dr. Norman is perhaps best known as one whose “commitment and leadership for educational, scientific and career success of diverse astronomers through institutionalized and sustained culture change is a model to all scientific leaders.” In 2010 her introduction of collaboration-scale "research inclusion" introduced astronomical lexicon and strengthened the American Astronomical Society’s (AAS) ethical guidelines and created practical tools to make large scientific collaborations more inclusive. Most notable was her election as the first African American woman President of the AAS (2024 - 2026) where one colleague praised Norman for her landmark contributions and leadership to “develop and advocate for solutions to major community-wide issues, ranging from workforce development to federal funding and policy to accountability in achieving equity and inclusion goals.”   

Norman developed a series of white papers for the 2010 National Academies of Sciences (NAS), Engineering and Medicine Decadal Review focusing on how to address the underrepresentation of minorities in Astronomy. This detailed 10-year plan laid the foundation for a set of recommendations, including recommendations for partnerships between research universities and minority serving institutions as well as collaborations between national science societies and minority serving science societies, universities, and organizations.  Based on results reported in the 2020 NAS Decadal Review on workforce development, accountability, and demographic reporting, Norman’s steadfast and passionate advocacy has provided the field with a pathway to make astronomy more inclusive and diverse. 

Dr. Norman has served on numerous committees, spoken at many outreach events, and is a sought-after, invited speaker worldwide. She has led numerous Conference Proceedings, contributed to over a dozen science publication articles, and written many papers on policy and workforce positions. The impact of using her platform to create pathways for others and her commitment to increasing the participation in astronomy and related sciences of underrepresented students and professionals has given her a voice in shaping important conversations around equity, access, mentorship, and inclusivity in STEM.

Please contact the Awards team if you have questions about the nomination process