Prize Specifications

Principal Guideline

The SIAM Activity Group on Mathematics of Planet Earth (SIAG/MPE) Early Career Prize, established in 2021, is awarded biannually by SIAG/MPE to one outstanding early career researcher in the field of mathematics as applied to the planet Earth. The award recognizes distinguished contributions to the field in the six calendar years prior to the year of the award.

Eligibility

The award recognizes a single individual who has made outstanding, influential, and potentially long-lasting contributions to the field of mathematics of the planet Earth within six (6) years of receiving the PhD or equivalent degree as of January 1 of the year of the award. At least one of the papers containing this work must be published in English in a peer-reviewed journal or conference proceedings.  The committee may consider exceptions to the six-year rule, for career interruptions or delays occurring in this time frame, e.g., for child bearing, child rearing, or elder care. The award can be received only once in a lifetime.

Submissions

A nomination consists of a letter of nomination outlining the major achievements of the candidate, a CV of the candidate, and letters of support from two or three (but no more than three) experts.

Prize Committee

Formation

The recipient will be selected by the SIAG/MPE Prize Committee on the Early Career Prize. This committee will consist of a panel of at least five SIAG/MPE members. The SIAG Chair, in consultation with the other officers, will form a list of at least five SIAG/MPE members to serve on the prize selection committee, will designate the chair, and will submit the list to the SIAM Vice President at Large (SIAM VP) for approval prior to inviting the committee members to serve.  The SIAG officers will seek to ensure a diverse composition of the prize committee in research area, gender, geography, employment sector (industry, national laboratories, universities), and under-represented groups.

Tenure

The term of office will be from the date of appointment until the date of the award.

Rules of Operation

The SIAG/MPE officers and SIAM office will solicit nominations for the prize from the general membership of the SIAG/MPE using SIAM office resources as needed.

The prize committee will follow the best practices set out in the SIAM Guidelines for Selection Committees. The prize committee will follow the SIAM rules for conflict of interest as posted in the guidelines.

Selection Procedures

Prize Committee's Recommendation

The Prize Committee will notify the SIAM VP of its selection at least six months prior to the award date. The notification must be accompanied by a written justification and a citation not exceeding 25 words that can be used for a certificate and read at award time.

The SIAM VP will accept or reject the committee's recommendation within one month of notification.

If the recommendation is accepted, the award presentation will be made according to the procedure below. If the recommendation is not accepted, the SIAM VP and the Prize Committee will select an acceptable individual at least four months prior to the award date.

The Selection Committee has the authority to choose to abstain from giving the award if there is no acceptable individual. If the award is not given for this reason, a new selection committee will be selected for the next award cycle. [1]

Notification of Award

The Chair of the Prize Committee will notify the recipient of the award at least four months in advance of the award date. As part of the notification, an invitation will also be extended to the recipient to attend the award ceremony at the biannual SIAG/MPE conference to receive the award. The recipient may also be offered the opportunity to give a brief talk at this conference about the work for which the award is given.

Description of Award

Award Type

The award will consist of a certificate containing the citation. As part of the award, the recipient will be invited to give a brief talk at the conference. SIAM will make travel funds available to reimburse the recipient for reasonable travel expenses incurred in attending the award ceremony and giving the talk.

Award Date

The prize is awarded every two years at the biannual conference of SIAG/MPE.

The Prize Fund

Since there is no cash award and minimal expenses are associated with the prize, there will be no prize fund.

Award Presentation

The SIAG/MPE Chair and the Chair of the Prize Committee will announce the award through the SIAM Engage platform and SIAM News. The SIAG leadership will formally present the award to the recipient at the biannual SIAG/MPE conference.

^[1] An award decision will also be postponed to the next cycle if the number of nominations does not meet the required number to forward to the selection committee. See SIAM Prize Policy for more information.