The prize is awarded annually for outstanding work in precision measurements of fundamental constants and tests of fundamental laws and symmetries or in atomic, molecular and optical physics. The prize shall ordinarily go to one individual, but may be shared with one or two others if this is clearly appropriate. Nominations are open to scientists of all nationalities regardless of the geographical site at which the work was done and nominations are active for three years. In keeping with the APS goal of serving a diverse and inclusive community of physicists, nominations of qualified women and members of underrepresented minority groups are especially encouraged.