Honor Society
Each year a group of independent nominators is invited to bring forward candidates.
At the heart of our Honor lies a rigorous and inclusive nomination process designed to uphold the integrity and prestige of the award. Nominators are selected based on their demonstrated expertise in one or more key dimensions relevant to the award’s mission. Care is taken to ensure that the body of nominators reflects the diversity and breadth of the potential Honorees—spanning cultures, disciplines, and faith traditions.
To maintain impartiality and safeguard the integrity of the process, nominators remain anonymous. They may include esteemed scientists, philosophers, theologians, and respected figures from various religious and intellectual traditions. This diverse and thoughtful group is entrusted with identifying individuals whose work or influence exemplifies the spirit and purpose of the Honor.
Nominators are encouraged to think beyond their own disciplines, recognizing excellence and impact wherever it may reside. They are free to put forward any individuals—regardless of field or background—who, in their judgment, most powerfully fulfill the criteria of the award.
Once nominations are submitted, qualified candidates undergo a comprehensive review by an independent panel of distinguished external judges. These judges represent a remarkable cross-section of global leadership, including royalty, former presidents and heads of state, eminent scientists, and religious leaders from the Buddhist, Christian, Hindu, Islamic, and Jewish traditions.
Each nominee is evaluated independently and ranked according to how well they meet the established criteria of merit, ensuring that the final selection reflects excellence, ethical leadership, and global significance.
Nomination
While many outstanding candidates are first brought to our attention through nominations, third-party nomination is not required to apply for recognition by the Notable Roxburian Society (N.R.S.).
That said, if you know someone—whether in your community, professional network, or academic circle—who embodies the spirit and values of a Notable Roxburian, we encourage you to submit a nomination using our official Nomination Form. By doing so, you help us identify exceptional individuals who may not otherwise come forward on their own. Upon receiving your nomination, we will personally invite the potential candidate to apply.
The N.R.S. nomination process is anonymous to protect the integrity of the selection process. However, if you feel comfortable, you are welcome to inform the nominee directly and discuss the opportunity with them.
Your nomination could help shine a light on someone whose contributions deserve to be recognized—and whose leadership can inspire others.
Review
Each candidate undergoes a comprehensive, multi-stage evaluation, beginning with nominations and followed by a rigorous review process conducted by a panel of nine independent judges. These judges are drawn from diverse professional sectors, including the sciences, humanities, and global religious traditions, ensuring a broad and inclusive perspective on merit and impact.
At N.R.S., we are committed to honoring individuals who exemplify excellence, leadership, and service in all aspects of their lives—whether in academia, community engagement, cultural advocacy, or ethical leadership.
Judging
Becoming a member of the Notable Roxburian Society is a rare honor.
Our society holds the highest standards of excellence, and we take pride in the fact that our members consistently uphold and surpass those expectations.
The selection of the Notable Roxburian Laureate reflects this commitment. Each judge independently evaluates candidates according to our established criteria of merit. Their careful and discerning judgments ensure that only those most deserving are chosen.
Once selected, the Laureate is formally notified of the award and extended an invitation to join the ranks of our esteemed society.
Award Criteria:
The Notable Roxburian Society honors individuals whose exemplary achievements advance Dr. Muhammed's philanthropic vision: harnessing the power of the sciences to explore the deepest questions of the universe and humankind’s purpose and place within it.
Candidates are recognized for their cumulative body of work rather than for their achievements within the last year
Candidates may include scientists (primarily but not exclusively from the physical, biological, cognitive, and social sciences) whose body of original scientific research has shed new light on philosophical and theological questions.
Candidates may include scholars (primarily but not exclusively theologians and philosophers) whose scholarship has successfully incorporated the methods and findings of the sciences in order to significantly advance understanding with respect to philosophical and theological questions.
Candidates may include opinion leaders who have used their public voice as public intellectuals to encourage greater curiosity, open-mindedness, and intellectual humility with respect to the use of the sciences to inform, challenge, and enlarge our understanding of the universe and our place within it.
Candidates may include religious leaders who have created new norms, standards, and expectations within their religious communities, particularly concerning the use of the sciences to inform, challenge, and enlarge understanding of received doctrines within the religious community.