Apr

2019 Secretary’s Research Prizes: Call for Nominations

Nominations are open for the 2019 Secretary’s Research Prizes. The Prizes, organized by the Smithsonian Congress of Scholars, recognize excellence in recent research across the Smithsonian and reﬂect the diversity of research at the institution. All Smithsonian staﬀ members are eligible. Up to 10 prizes are awarded annually in the categories listed below. Nominations close May 31.

Dr. Melissa Songer taking a break from tracking a conflict elephant for collaring in the Bago Yoma, Myanmar. She presented the annual Bruce “Will” Morrison memorial lecture Sept. 18, 2018 at the ceremony recognizing the 2018 winners of the Secretary’s Research Prizes. (Photo courtesy of Christie Sampson.)

Nomination Process:

SI staff may self-nominate or be nominated by another SI staff member. Please send the name, unit and email address of the nominee to Pamela Hudson Veenbaas at HudsonP@si.edu.

The submission and review process will go through SOLAA, the Smithsonian OnLine Academic Appointments system. SCOS will follow up with each nominee to provide further instructions on submission of materials which will be submitted through SOLAA by June 30.

A selection committee composed of members of SCOS will review the nominations and peer reviews and forward recommendations to the Secretary. The awards will be presented at the annual meeting of the Congress of Scholars in the fall. Each prize will be awarded $2,000 in research funds, to be placed in 402 accounts.

Prize Categories:

All nominations must make an original and useful contribution to knowledge and will be judged on quality of research, originality, clarity of writing and presentation, and usefulness of the research to the scholarly ﬁeld and society.

Articles and chapters

Published in 2018 in peer-reviewed publications or book-length publications, i.e. edited volumes, proceedings.

Scholarly books

Published in 2017 or 2018; books remain in contention for two years.
Includes single-author exhibition catalogs.

Exhibition catalogues

Published in 2018.
Multiple authors or editors.
Organized and edited by at least one Smithsonian staﬀ member.

Symposium proceedings

Published in 2018.
Single or multiple authors or editors.
Organized and edited by at least one Smithsonian staﬀ member.

Exhibitions without a published catalog

Opened in 2018.
Will be judged on quality of research and innovative selection and grouping of objects, explanatory wall texts, and installation strategies.
Not a prize for education or outreach.