Of all the activities that take place in the lab, perhaps the least remarked and the least rewarded is that of the mentorship of young researchers.

True, some labs are well known for the stream of outstanding scientists that have emerged to go on to do great things. Some of these have leading individuals who have devoted much thought and effort to nurturing young researchers. But it is not often that their efforts are recognized.

Good young scientists might not need conscious mentoring; they may be stimulated or inspired simply by day-to-day interaction with a more experienced researcher — or one who is complementary in his or her thinking. But even the most independent-minded young tyros can benefit from advice from time to time, whether on lab practice or in channeling their energies. Others might need some systematic attention from a lab head to achieve their creative potential. Certainly, there is no easy definition of what good mentoring is.

One way or another, however, good mentoring is too often taken for granted. So in 2005 we created an award aimed at recognizing outstanding scientific mentorship. The Nature Awards for Mentoring in Science focus on a specific country or countries each year.

2009 awards - Japan

• The 2009 awards invite nominations from Japan, with two prizes of ¥1.5 million- one for mid-career achievement (up to 59 years of age), and one for lifetime achievement (60 years of age and over). Nominations are now open, with a closing date of 25 September 2009. The Awards will be presented by Dr Philip Campbell, the Editor-in-Chief of Nature, on 1 December 2009 at a ceremony at the Residence of the UK Ambassador in Tokyo. Visit the 2009 Awards page.

Previous awards

2008 Awards - Germany

• Lifetime achievement award (joint winners): Klass Bergmann (Technical University of Kaiserslautern) and Heinrich Betz, director of the Max Planck Institute for Brain research, Frankfurt
• Mid-career achievement award: Peer Bork (European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Heidelberg)
• 2008 award page
• Nature coverage

2007 Awards – South Africa

• Lifetime achievement: Professor Barry Fabian (University of the Witwatersrand)
• Mid-career award: Professor Charles de Koning (University of the Witwatersrand)
• 2007 award page
• Nature coverage

2006 Awards – United Kingdom and Australasia

United Kingdom

• Lifetime achievement (joint winners): Andrew McMichael (Wetherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Oxford) and Godfrey Hewitt (University of East Anglia)
• Mid-career award: Steve Watson (University of Birmingham)
• 2006 (UK) award page
• Nature coverage

Australasia

• Lifetime achievement: Professor Tom Healy (University of Melbourne)
• Mid-career award: Professor Rachel Webster (University of Melbourne)
• 2006 (Australasia) award page
• Nature coverage

2005 Awards – United Kingdom

• Lifetime achievement: Tom Kibble (Imperial College, London)
• Mid-career award: Innes Cuthill (University of Bristol)
• 2006 (UK) award page
• Nature coverage