June 16, 2026
RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, NC — Sigma Xi, The Scientific Research Honor Society, has named Robert Boily as the recipient of the 2026 William Procter Prize for Scientific Achievement, recognizing his extraordinary career advancing interdisciplinary research while demonstrating exceptional ability to communicate scientific discoveries across disciplines, industry, and government.
Established in 1950, the William Procter Prize is one of Sigma Xi's highest honors. The award recognizes scientists who have made outstanding contributions to scientific research while excelling in communicating the significance of their work to researchers beyond their own fields. In addition to a $5,000 honorarium, the recipient also designates a younger colleague, student, or early-career researcher to receive an additional $5,000 honorarium in recognition of their promise and contributions to scientific research, helping to foster the next generation of scientific leaders. Boily will also deliver the prestigious Procter Prize lecture during Sigma Xi's annual conference, the 2026 International Forum on Research Excellence (IFoRE).
Boily's career spans more than five decades at the intersection of applied physics, engineering, innovation, and science policy. As president of the Academy of Science of Canada, first vice president of the Royal Society of Canada, and mentor for Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies at the University of Montreal, he has played a pivotal role in advancing research, fostering interdisciplinary collaboration, and translating scientific discoveries into practical applications.
Throughout his career, Boily has led or contributed to more than 1,000 research projects supporting billions of dollars in scientific programs across Canada. He has served as a senior science advisor to the National Research Council of Canada, the Canadian Space Agency, the Department of National Defence, Hydro-Québec, and numerous other government agencies, while collaborating with organizations including NASA, the European Space Agency, General Electric, Pratt & Whitney, and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory. His work has helped accelerate innovation in electronics, photonics, aerospace, nanotechnology, advanced materials, medical imaging, and clean energy.
Equally notable is Boily's commitment to communicating science. Throughout his career, he has bridged the gap between researchers, policymakers, industry leaders, and the public, helping transform complex scientific discoveries into strategic decisions, new technologies, public policy, and economic development. His efforts have helped secure hundreds of millions of dollars in research and development investments while fostering the creation of new scientific enterprises and highly skilled jobs.
A Sigma Xi Fellow and long-time member of the Society, Boily has also been elected Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada, the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the American Physical Society, the Institute of Physics (United Kingdom), and the Engineering Institute of Canada. His numerous honors include being named a Knight of the National Order of Quebec, Knight of the Order of Academic Palms (France), Knight of the Order of La Pléiade (France), and recipient of Sigma Xi's 2008 John P. McGovern Science and Society Award.