2021 Call for AERA Award Nominations
2021 Call for AERA Award Nominations
 
Nominations Sought for 2021 AERA Awards
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2021 Call for Award Nominations
 

The American Educational Research Association seeks nominations for the 2021 AERA Awards. The submission deadline for the 2021 AERA-sponsored awards has been extended to December 22, 2020 (except for nominations for the Outstanding Book Award, which were due December 1, 2020)To be eligible for consideration, unless otherwise noted, all nominations must be submitted electronically, using the AERA award nomination e-form, on or before the deadline. Each award nomination portal can be accessed below. Listings of past awardees can be found on the AERA website at https://www.aera.net/About-AERA/Awards

Those submitting nominations should clearly identify the award for which the nomination is being submitted. Specific nominating criteria are detailed for each award, as described below. Note that supporting materials may include curriculum vitae, letters of support from other AERA members familiar with the nominee’s work, sample publications, and additional information on the nominee’s accomplishments. 

Please note that beginning in 2018, the Palmer O. Johnson Memorial Award and the Review of Research Award no longer seek individual award nominations. All articles published in the American Educational Research Journal, the Journal for Educational and Behavioral StatisticsEducational Evaluation and Policy AnalysisAERA Open, and Educational Researcher in the year prior to the award are considered for the Palmer O. Johnson Memorial Award. Also, all articles published in the Review of Research in Education and the Review of Educational Research in the prior year are considered for the Review of Research Award. 

All AERA awards will be conferred at the Awards Ceremony and Celebration during the 2021 Annual Meeting. 

Distinguished Contributions to Research in Education Award

This award is the premier acknowledgment of outstanding achievement and success in education research. Its purpose is to publicize, motivate, encourage, and suggest models for education research at its best. Each year, nominations are invited from AERA members who wish to honor a meritorious colleague, one who is considered by other education researchers to stand out in the profession by meeting the very highest of professional standards of achievement. 

Nominations must include a cover letter listing the applicable professional achievements of the candidate and stating the reasons that the candidate is uniquely qualified to receive the award, along with the candidate’s most recent curriculum vitae. Although not required, additional letters of support are welcome. 

The winner of the 2021 award will be invited to give the Distinguished Contributions to Research in Education Award Lecture at the 2022 Annual Meeting in San Diego, CA.

To submit a nomination for the Distinguished Contributions to Research in Education Award, click here

Outstanding Book Award

The Outstanding Book Award was established to acknowledge and honor the year’s best book-length publication in education research and development. To be considered for the 2021 Outstanding Book Award, a book must be concerned with the improvement of the educational process through original research or scholarly inquiry, must have a research base, and must have a 2019 or 2020 copyright date. 

Nominations may be submitted by the author of the work, by another scholar, or by the publisher of the work. If the publisher advances a nomination, it must be accompanied by a letter from a scholar. The nominator must submit a nomination letter online detailing the contribution of the book and the basis for the nomination. Additionally, the nominator must mail ten (10) printed copies of the book being nominated to: 

American Educational Research Association
Attn: AERA Outstanding Book Award Committee
1430 K Street, NW, Suite 1200
Washington, DC 20005 

The book may have been published anywhere in the world but, for purposes of consideration, must be available in English. Books published in 2019 that were nominated for the 2020 award may be re-nominated for consideration this year. Edited volumes, including textbooks, will not be considered. 

To submit a nomination for the Outstanding Book Award, click here

E. F. Lindquist Award

Named in honor of an outstanding scholar and researcher, this annual award is presented jointly by the American Educational Research Association and the American College Testing Program in recognition of outstanding applied or theoretical research in the field of testing and measurement. The award is meant to acknowledge a body of research of an empirical, theoretical, or integrative nature rather than a single study. Although the research is not required to have led directly to improved educational practices, it should nevertheless be rich in suggestions for additional research that does hold such promise. Particular emphasis will be given to research that has advanced the companion goals of greater understanding and improved use of testing and measurement techniques. Awardees may include individuals conducting research in a broad array of disciplines, such as education and psychology.

Nominations must include a detailed letter outlining the basis for the nomination, including a description of the research and of how the candidate is uniquely qualified to receive this award. A copy of the nominee’s most recent curriculum vitae should also be provided. 

The winner of the 2021 award will be invited to give the E. F. Lindquist Award Lecture at the 2022 Annual Meeting in San Diego, CA. An article emanating from the lecture will be considered for publications in the Journal of Educational and Behavioral Statistics

To submit a nomination for the E. F. Lindquist award, click here.

Early Career Award

Established to honor an individual in the early stages of their career no later than 10 years after receipt of the doctoral degree, this award can be granted for study in any field of educational inquiry. Nominations must include the following: 

  • A letter of nomination explaining why this nominee is qualified to be recognized in this manner; 
  • The nominee’s most recent curriculum vitae; 
  • Two representative scholarly publications by the nominee; 
  • Two letters of support from individuals familiar with the nominee’s work and qualified to speak on their behalf on this topic. 

The winner of the 2021 award will be invited to give the Early Career Award Lecture at the 2022 Annual Meeting in San Diego, CA.

To submit a nomination for the Early Career Award, click here

Distinguished Public Service Award

This award is granted annually in recognition of an individual who has worked to enact or implement policies that are well grounded in education research, or who has been at the forefront of efforts to increase recognition and support for education research. The recipient will be invited either to deliver an address or to participate in a panel discussion during the 2021 Annual Meeting on a topic relevant to their contribution and expertise. Nominations must include a letter stating the basis for the nomination and any other supporting materials. 

To submit a nomination for the Distinguished Public Service Award, click here

Social Justice in Education Award

Established in 2004, the AERA Social Justice in Education Award honors an individual who has advanced social justice through education research and exemplified the goal of linking education research to social justice. 

The Social Justice Action Committee seeks nominations of individuals who have had an extraordinary impact on social justice by producing and/or applying education research to policy and/or practice. Self-nominations will not be accepted. Nominations must include a letter stating the basis for the nomination, the nominee’s curriculum vitae, and any other supporting materials. 

The winner of the 2021 award will be invited to give the Social Justice in Education Award Lecture at the 2021 Annual Meeting. 

To submit a nomination for the Social Justice in Education Award, click here

Scholars of Color in Education Awards

The AERA Committee on Scholars of Color in Education seeks nominations for three awards. These awards are intended to recognize (a) scholars who have made significant research contributions to the understanding of issues that disproportionately affect minority populations, and (b) scholars of color who have made significant contributions to education research and development. 

Eligibility: 

  1. Scholars of Color Distinguished Career Contribution: Presented to a senior-level scholar, usually 20 years or more after their receipt of the doctoral degree.
  2. Scholars of Color Mid-Career Contribution: Presented to a scholar who is beyond the first level of professional appointment and for whom at least 10 years have passed since receipt of the doctoral degree. 
  3. Scholars of Color Early Career Contribution: Presented to a scholar who is within the first ten (10) years of their career after receipt of the doctoral degree. 

Nomination Materials and Criteria for Evaluation: 

Letter of Nomination: letters of nomination must speak explicitly to the nominee’s “significant contributions to the understanding of issues that disproportionately affect minority populations” in the case of scholars, OR to the nominee’s “significant contribution(s) to education research and development” in the case of scholars of color. Letters must address what the contribution is and what makes it significant. Nominations for the Distinguished Career Contribution Award must also describe the impact of the nominee’s scholarly work on understanding of such issues or areas of education research beyond a single field, topic, or the nominee’s sphere of influence. 

Letters of Support: A minimum of two (2) letters of support will be assessed according to the quality of the rationale and evidence presented regarding why the nominee is potentially an excellent candidate for the award. Letters of support must be well-written and precise, and be written on employer letterhead. 

Curriculum Vitae (CV): The nominee’s vita should include the usual categories, including name, address, current and past employment, scholarly works, teaching and advising, and so forth. Federal government biographical sketches, webpages, and links are not permitted in lieu of a CV. 

Representative Works: A minimum of two (2) representative referred journal articles or other scholarly works are required. Scholarly works may include PDF versions of journal articles, chapters, or representative chapters (e.g., introduction and conclusion) from a book authored by the nominee. Videos, installations, artifacts, and creative works are welcome in fields and specialties where these are the norm of the field. 

Nomination materials must be submitted directly to the AERA nomination submission portal; materials should not be sent by mail or forwarded to individual members of the Committee on Scholars of Color in Education. 

To submit a nomination for the Scholars of Color in Education Awards, click here

Distinguished Contributions to Gender Equity in Education Research Award

Established in 2006, the Distinguished Contributions to Gender Equity in Education Research Award recognizes individuals within AERA for distinguished research, professional practice, and activities that advance public understanding of gender and/or sexuality at any level in the education community. This award will be presented to an individual whose professional career has been devoted in substantial part to the study of gender and/or sexuality in education, and who has significantly advanced the field through extraordinary leadership, scholarship, or professional practice. 

Letters of nomination for this award should include a specific description of the nominee’s contributions and impact through scholarship and professional practice in advancing the study of gender and/or sexuality in education. A copy of the nominee’s most recent curriculum vitae should also be provided. Self-nominations will not be accepted. Nominations must include a detailed letter outlining the basis for the nomination, including a description of the research and practice that demonstrates how the candidate is uniquely qualified to receive this award, and any additional supporting materials. The AERA Committee on Scholars and Advocates for Gender Equity in Education will review all nominations for consideration. 

To submit a nomination for the Distinguished Contributions to Gender Equity in Education Research Award, click here

Exemplary Contributions to Practice-Engaged Research Award

The AERA Award for Exemplary Contributions to Practice-Engaged Research is presented to an education research scholar or scholars in recognition of collaborative project(s) between researchers and practitioners that have had sustained and observable effects on contexts of practice. 

Research conducted in settings in which collaboration between researchers and practitioners is integral to addressing challenging issues, constructing research-based innovations, or undertaking research‐based evaluations that have an impact beyond a single program or site are eligible for consideration. 

For purposes of this award, practice settings are understood to span the spectrum of educational contexts and levels of education, including informal environments, in which learning occurs. This award excludes work designed to influence the larger public or policy makers, or to have an indirect influence on education settings or practice though publications or research.

The award will be presented annually, but may represent work conducted within a five-year time frame preceding the year in which the award is conferred.

Nominations must include: (1) the nominee's curriculum vitae; (2) a detailed nomination statement (maximum 1,000 words) that describes how the nominee's work has advanced contexts of educational practice, and includes evidence to support these claims; and (3) two additional substantive letters of support. In addition, the nomination material must include (4) a letter from the partnering educative setting or institution setting forth the nature of the research project or activity and the contribution of this work. 

To submit a nomination for the Exemplary Contributions to Practice-Engaged Research Award, click here.

Outstanding Public Communication of Education Research Award

The AERA Award for Outstanding Public Communication of Education Research is presented to honor scholars exemplary in their capacity to communicate the importance of education research to the broad public, including education communities. Each year, the award recognizes a scholar who has excelled in conveying important findings and research to wide audiences and who has demonstrated the capacity to deepen understanding and appreciation of the value of education research in the public sphere. Awardees are notable for their commitment to effective communication, whether sustained over a long period of time or substantial in its significance. 

Nominations must include: (1) the nominee's curriculum vitae; (2) a detailed nomination statement (maximum 1,000 words) that describes how the nominee's work has contributed to advancing public understanding and knowledge of significant issues in education research, and includes evidence to support these claims; and (3) two additional substantive letters of support. 

To submit a nomination for the Outstanding Public Communication of Education Research Award, click here

Excellence in Media Reporting on Education Research Award

The AERA Award for Excellence in Media Reporting on Education Research is presented to an individual in the media who has demonstrated excellence in raising awareness, knowledge, and understanding of education research. Recipients of this award are persons who have made noteworthy contributions to reporting on findings, bodies of research, or scholarship in the field of education research in any medium of public communication. The award honors a media professional whose work exemplifies 8 promoting a broader vision of the value of education research to society, whether sustained over a long period of time or substantial in its significance.

Nominations must include: (1) the nominee's curriculum vitae, (2) a detailed nomination statement (maximum 1,000 words) that describes how the nominee’s reporting advances public understanding of significant issues in education research, and (3) up to three examples of the nominee’s professional work (e.g., print/online material, video) that reflects these contributions.

To submit a nomination for the Excellence in Media Reporting on Education Research Award, click here


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