PRESENTED BY: Jim Basinger, Chair
Research, Scholarly and Artistic Work Committee
DATE OF MEETING: January 27, 2005
SUBJECT: Distinguished Researcher Award Terms of Reference
COUNCIL ACTION: For information only
ORIGIN OF REQUEST AND ADVANCED CONSULTATION:
The Distinguished Researcher Award was first established in 1992 to recognize and promote the research accomplishments of University faculty members. This fall, the Distinguished Research Award Selection Committee undertook a review of the terms of reference for the award in consultation with the RSAW Committee. Review of both the terms of reference and past history of awards revealed an imbalance in terms of distribution of awards both in gender and amongst disciplines, particularly the absence of awards made within the Fine Arts and Humanities. Accordingly, the criteria within the terms of reference were restructured to increase the diversity of nominations, and the revised terms were approved by the RSAW Committee December 15, 2004.
The following summary highlights the major changes made within the revised terms:
In addition, specific guidelines for nomination were developed to provide for greater consistency of nomination packages.
Respectfully submitted,
J. Basinger, Chair
Members:
Chris Zhang (Mechanical Engineering)
Rob Pywell (Physics & Engineering Physics)
Marie Battiste (Educational Foundations)
Rob Hudson (Philosophy)
Valerie Korinek (History)
Anne Leis (Community Health & Epidemiology.)
Alison Norlen (Art & Art History)
Gordon Sarty (Psychology)
Kirby Pozniak (USSU)
Nicole Berard (GSA)
Steven Franklin (VP Research)
Tom Wishart (Dean, CGSR & Assoc. VP Research)
Laura Zink (Research Services)
Kathryn Warden (Research Communications)
Bryan Schreiner (Research Services)
Sandra Calver, Secretary, OUS
ATTACHMENTS:
Distinguished Researcher Award Terms of Reference and Nomination Procedures
Distinguished Researcher Award
Terms of Reference
The Distinguished Researcher Award was established in the Spring of 1992. Presented semi-annually to members of the University research community, the Award recognizes members of faculty for significant contributions to knowledge or artistic creativity in their areas of expertise with an emphasis on work undertaken while employed at the University.
Open to all members of the University community eligible for membership in the College of Graduate Studies and Research.
Each year, one award will be given to an eligible candidate in each of the following categories:
1) Member of the University community who is within 10 years of receiving their PhD or the terminal degree required for their current University position;
2) Member of the University community who received their PhD or the terminal degree required by their current position 10 or more years ago.
Members of the University community may only receive the Distinguished Researcher Award once.
The University of Saskatchewan encourages nominations from the four designated equity groups amongst our faculty - people of aboriginal descent, women, members of visible minorities, and people with disabilities.
Selection Criteria
The Award is given to individuals who have made a significant contribution to knowledge or artistic creativity. This contribution could be a long-term, cumulative contribution or a single, particularly insightful idea, experiment, application or interpretation. All research, scholarly and artistic contributions will be considered, but an emphasis will be placed on work undertaken while employed at the University.
The Selection Committee may consider the following criteria in selecting the two recipients:
1) scholarly activity - may include impact on society or scholarly community, cumulative contribution, seminal article(s) or monograph, etc.
2) distinguished, creative or artistic work;
3) development of major research installations (e.g. a research centre);
4) significant breakthrough in an individual's research area;
5) recognition by professional societies and distinguished research awards (e.g. Fellowship in the Royal Society of Canada);
6) participation in the deliberations of a major research-granting agency (e.g. member and/or chair of a grant selection committee, member of council executive, etc.);
7) contribution to the training and research activity of graduate students, PDFs and technical staff;
8) enhancement of the intellectual life of the university community.
The award recipients shall be chosen by a selection committee chaired by the Vice-President Research and including chairpersons of the President's SSHRC and NSERC committees or designates, a representative from the health research constituency on campus, a representative from the Graduate Student Association and the chairperson of the Research, Scholarly and Artistic Work Committee of Council.
Nomination Procedures
Each year, the Office of the Vice-President Research will be responsible for issuing a call for nominations.
Candidates will be nominated by two colleagues at the University of Saskatchewan, at least one of whom is a member of a department other than the nominee's.
The nomination package must include:
1) A letter from the two nominators indicating for which category the individual is being nominated, summarizing the candidate's research achievements, and outlining the national or international significance of the candidate's scholarly work. (The nomination letter should not exceed 5 pages);
2) Current curriculum vitae of the candidate;
3) A minimum of three and a maximum of five letters of support from scholars in the candidate's main or cognate field, commenting on the import and impact of the candidates work nationally and internationally. At least two of these letters must be from a scholar outside of the University of Saskatchewan;
Award recipients will receive:
1) $1,000 Prize
2) An engraved memento
In addition, the University will maintain, in a prominent place on campus, a master plaque listing all award recipients.
Public SeminarAward recipients will be asked to present under the aegis of the Vice-President Research a public seminar to the University and greater community.
Login