The BJPS Popper Prize (formerly the Sir Karl Popper Essay Prize) is awarded for the best of those papers appearing in the British Journal for the Philosophy of Science which concern themselves with topics in the philosophy of science to which Sir Karl made a significant contribution. It is awarded on the basis of the judgement of the Editors of the Journal (in liaison with the BSPS Committee, as the Editors see fit) from papers appearing in that year’s volume of the Journal. Details of recent winners can be found here.

The Prize was originally established at the wish of the late Dr Laurence B. Briskman, formerly of the Department of Philosophy, University of Edinburgh, who died on 8 May 2002, having endowed an essay prize fund to encourage work in any area falling under the general description of the critical rationalist philosophy of Karl Popper. Dr Briskman came to the University of Edinburgh in 1969, after completing graduate studies in logic and philosophy of science at the London School of Economics, where he was greatly influenced by Popper, who remained the dominant intellectual influence on his philosophical outlook throughout his career.

Prior to 2011, the prize was awarded to essays that were not necessarily published in the BJPS.