Prize Specifications

Principal Guidelines

The Jerald L. Ericksen Prize is awarded every 5 years for the original formulation of a mathematical theory of a significant scientific or engineering problem. The prize may recognize either a formulation that enables the novel application of mathematical ideas or a formulation that raises new questions in mathematics. The prize is awarded for research completed in the fifteen years preceding the award date.

Prize Committee

Formation

The prize committee will consist of three SIAM members appointed by the SIAM President with one member designated as chair. Members of the prize committee must be appointed at least eighteen months before the prize award date. Two successive committees may not have more than one common member. Past recipients cannot serve as a member of the committee. Committee members who served in the most previous award cycle are not eligible to receive the prize.

Tenure of the Prize Committee

The committee for each prize award serves from the date of appointment until the prize is awarded. If the committee reports that no prize winner has been chosen, and if this report is accepted by the Executive Committee of the SIAM Council, the committee's duties will be completed. No individual can serve more than two terms.

Selection Procedures

Eligibility

The prize may be awarded to any member or members of the scientific community meeting the general guidelines of the award. The prize should be given for a single piece of work. The prize may be awarded to multiple individuals but only for contributions to a single piece of their collaborative work.

Nominations

Nominations will be solicited in SIAM publications and various relevant electronic newsletters at least fifteen months before the awarding of the prize.

Rules of Operation

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 conflicts of interest as posted on the SIAM website.

Recommendation

The committee is to present its recommendation to the president at least ten months before thedate on which the prize is to be awarded. The committee should select at most one prize winner or group of collaborators as discussed in the Eligibility section. Exceptions to this rule must be approved by the Executive Committee of the SIAM Council.

The committee's report must include a written justification (a short report on the committee's deliberations that justifies the recommendation) and a citation of about 100 words suitable for a certificate and that may be read at the time of the award.

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

Approval by the Executive Committee of the SIAM Council

The president will report the committee's recommendation to the Executive Committee of the SIAM Council, which will accept or reject the committee's choice not later than eight months before the award date.

If the committee recommendation is not accepted by the Executive Committee of the SIAM Council, then the prize will not be awarded for that period, and the membership of the award committee will change as described above.

Notification of the Prize Winner

The president will notify the recipient(s) at least seven months prior to the award date and request a lecture as part of the prize ceremony.

Description of the Award

The Ericksen Prize award will be $2,000 (with adjustments depending on the income of the prize fund) and a certificate for each recipient. If more than one person receives the prize, the cash award is to be divided equally among the recipients. As part of the award, the recipient or a representative of the collaboration will be required to present a lecture at the SIAM annual meeting. The lecture will be publicized in meeting announcements. Travel funds will be made available to reimburse the speaker for reasonable travel expenses incurred in attending the award ceremony and giving the lecture.

Award Date

The prize is awarded every fifth year normally at the annual meeting of SIAM. If no prize is awarded, the award date then moves forward five years.

Award Presentation

The award will be presented by the president of SIAM. The chair of the Award committee will announce the award, read the citation and introduce the lecturer. The announcement of the award will be in SIAM News, the SIAM website and released to other appropriate scientific journals, electronic newsletters, and major daily newspapers.

Prize History

The initial funds for this award were contributed by the students, friends, colleagues, and familyof Jerald Ericksen in recognition of his fundamental contributions to the development of mathematical and continuum theories of nonlinear elasticity, liquid crystals, non-Newtonian fluids and crystalline solids, in admiration for his ability to bring to bear deep and abstract mathematical ideas to physical phenomena, and in profound appreciation for his encouragement, mentorship and generosity.

[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.