PUBLIC SCHOLARSHIP AWARD

Purpose : The Public Scholarship Award recognizes exemplary interdisciplinary research that has a demonstrable ameliorative impact on pressing public issues with a special focus on the knowledge needs of policymakers and practitioners. This award recognizes research that generates non-traditional scholarly products, presented in a manner that is widely accessible to targeted audiences and/or the general public. Such work might include policy briefs, program evaluations, white papers, reports, translations of scientific or other scholarly findings, site revitalization plans, concept maps, videos, or other creative products designed to respond to and inform broader publics.

Eligibility: Any scholar (or team of scholars) with a distinguished body of high-impact contributions, indicating sustained field-building commitment and activity. “Scholar” as used here encompasses those who self-define as “researchers,” “scholars,” or “practitioner-scholars” and does not imply any particular academic status.

Evaluation criteria

  1. Reciprocity and engagement. Research that responds to and involves community-based thought partners in the framing, design, analysis, creation, and/or dissemination of a non-traditional scholarly product.

  2. Rigor and quality. Methods of inquiry that are appropriate to the question/issue and context and meet the highest standards of academic rigor. 

  3. Accessibility. Scholarly products are thoughtfully designed to be accessible to the intended public audience.

  4. Generativity. Research that expands involvement, generates opportunities for further inquiry, advances collaboration or co-creation in scholarly production, generates new knowledge, and/or utilizes novel or creative approaches in addressing public issues.

  5. Public impact. Research that has a demonstrated value to communities and community organizations, and/or a measurable public impact including improvements to public policies and practices, program outcomes, and organizational changes.

Nomination packet

  1. A nomination letter (not to exceed two pages) developed by academic colleagues, students, and/or community partners summarizing the nominee’s contribution and establishing their significance in advancing knowledge, deepening research and practice, and/or impacting policy (co-authored letters are welcome).

  2. Two letters of support (not to exceed one page each) attesting to the quality and impact of the nominee’s work (co-authored letters are welcome). We welcome letters of support from individuals/organizations most involved with or impacted by the scholar’s work.

  3. One publication or other scholarly product representative of the nominee’s work that addresses the award criteria

  4. A statement by the nominee (not to exceed two pages) articulating purposes, research procedures, outcomes, and future directions (optional)

  5. A current copy of the nominee's resume or curriculum vitae.