Prize Specifications

Principal Guideline

The SIAM Activity Group on Optimization (SIAG/OPT) Test of Time Award, established in 2022, is awarded every three years to an individual or group of researchers for an outstanding single piece of work that has had significant and sustained influence on the field of optimization over a time period of at least 10 years preceding the year of the award.

Eligibility

The award recognizes a significant paper published in English in a peer-reviewed journal or peer-reviewed conference proceedings, during the time period between 10 and 20 years prior to the year of the award. There are no restrictions on the award recipients' eligibility. The contributions by which the work will be judged can range from purely theoretical to mainly computational or particularly influential on practical applications.

The prize may be awarded to multiple individuals but only for contributions to a single piece of their collaborative work.

Prize Committee

Formation

The recipient(s) will be selected by the SIAG/OPT Prize Committee for the Test of Time Award.

This committee will consist of at least three SIAG/OPT members and will oversee the SIAG/OPT Test of Time Award.

The SIAG/OPT Chair, in consultation with the other officers, will form a list of at least three SIAG/OPT members to serve on the Prize 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/OPT officers will seek to ensure a diverse composition of the Prize Committee in research area, gender, geography, employment sector (industry, laboratories, universities), and under-represented groups.

Tenure of the Prize Committee

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

Rules of Operation

SIAG/OPT Officers will solicit nominations for the prize from the general membership of the SIAG/OPT, using SIAM office resources as needed.

The Prize Committee will follow the ‘best practices’ set out in the SIAM document for Selection Committees. The Prize Committee will follow the SIAM rules for conflict of interest as posted on the SIAM web site.

Selection Procedures

Prize Committee's Recommendation

The Prize Committee will notify the SIAM VP of its selection at least five months prior to the award date. The notification must be accompanied by a written justification and a citation not exceeding 25 words that will be read at award time and may be listed in the conference program.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 or group 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 nomination. If the award is not given, a new Prize Committee will be selected for the next award cycle.¹

Notification of Award

The Chair of the Prize Committee will notify the recipient(s) 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(s) to attend the award ceremony at the triennial SIAM Conference on Optimization to receive the award. At least one of the award recipients is expected to attend the award ceremony and to present a talk about the work for which the award is given.

Description of the Award

Award Type

The award will consist of a certificate containing the award citation. If the paper has multiple co-authors, each will receive a certificate. There will be no cash award. As part of the award, a representative author will be invited to present the paper at the triennial SIAM Conference on Optimization in a format to be determined by the conference’s program committee. Travel funds will be made available to reimburse the speaker for reasonable travel expenses incurred in attending the award ceremony and presenting the paper.

Award Date and Eligibility Period

The prize is awarded every third year (starting in 2023) at the triennial SIAM Conference on Optimization.

Prize Fund

Since there is no cash award, there will be no prize fund. Travel expenses for one designated recipient will be covered by the SIAM Conference on Optimization where the recipient gives an invited presentation.

Award Presentation

The SIAG/OPT Chair and the Chair of the Prize Committee will announce the award at the SIAM Conference on Optimization and present the award to the recipient(s). An announcement of the award will appear in SIAM News, on the SIAG/OPT website, and in the SIAG/OPT Views-and-News newsletter.

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.