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Past Recipients of the Research Impact Award (coming soon)

Research Impact Award

sponsored by Rutgers University

Purpose of the Award

This award will make more visible the dimensions of the societal contribution of Information Science and provide role models and examples for new scholars wishing to translate research into practical benefits for others. An award for outstanding research impact will shape and nourish Information Science as a discipline by encouraging future research that has important impact. This, in turn, will support researchers’ career development, as impact is highly valued by academic institutions and governments when assessing research contributions and research quality.

We use the term “impact” to refer to the application of research to a community that can benefit from the findings and the outcomes of that application. We realize that other terms such as knowledge exchange, knowledge mobilization, and translational research are used synonymously. What is intended with this award is ultimately the channeling through which findings of research have an impact on broad communities (which can be transdisciplinary). There should be a demonstrable positive change and understanding of the research which may lead to a transition from enquiry into practice. Existing awards (especially the Award of Merit and Research in Information Science Award) touch on practice, but only as part of a portfolio of activities.

The award will be offered to individuals or teams who have translated Information Science research into outcomes with demonstrated societal impact. The nomination will include a description of the research, the nature of its impact, and evidence on the scale and significance of the impact.

Eligibility

The nominee must meet the following qualifications:

  • For this award, “information science” is considered to include all the communication activities and information science and technology fields noted in the first paragraph of Article II, “Purpose,” of the ASIS&T Constitution and Bylaws, published on the ASIS&T website.
  • Persons involved in information science research or developmental programs which include research are eligible for the award. Nominees can be the creators of the original research, but do not have to be. If they did not create the original research, nominees must have taken important steps to translate the original research into practice.
  • The award is to be made for individual(s), not organizations.
  • Nominees (or one member if a team nomination) must be current members in good standing of ASIS&T
  • In cases where a contribution has been made by a research (or interpretor(s) of research) team, a team nomination may be made.
  • Prior award winners, current members of the Awards & Honors Committee, jury members and current members of the Board of Directors are not eligible.

Nominations will be carried forward for the succeeding two years unless withdrawn by the nominator.

Selection Criteria

Soundness, quality, clarity, and importance of the research (25%)

  • The research asks meaningful question(s)
  • The methodology of the research is appropriate to the answering of the question(s)
  • The findings are relevant and important
  • The nomination is well written, clear, and easy to understand

Process of creating impact (25%)

  • There is clear and ample evidence that the research has engaged one or more communities or partners in creating research impact
  • The process of engagement and impact and the role of communities or partners is clearly described
  • The application clearly demonstrates the benefits of the research to partners and communities

Evidence of impact and outcomes to partners and communities (25%)

  • There is clear and ample evidence of demonstrated leadership by the researcher(s) in designing impact and engagement
  • The desired outcomes are evident and the importance of the impact is clear
  • The value of the research to the partners/communities is clearly demonstrated

There are demonstrable lessons learned from the research or translation (15%)

  • The process of research or translation of research has clear and repeatable lessons and outcomes

 

 There are clear contributions to equity, diversity, accessibility and inclusion (10%)

  • There is an evident plan to embrace access, diversity, accessibility and inclusion (in keeping with ASIS&T goals)
  • The applicant(s) reflect on the success of the project with respect to equity, diversity, accessibility and inclusion

 Nominations Process

Nominations must be submitted by 11:59 pm US Pacific Time on the deadline date via the designated online portal.

Nominations must include the following only:

  • Name, affiliation, and contact information of nominee;
  • Name, affiliation, and contact information of nominator;
  • Nomination should be a 3-5 page narrative describing:
    • original papers used;
    • engagement of one or more communities or partner organizations and how end-user communities benefit;
    • evidence and nature of impact;
    • lessons learned;
    • equity, diversity, accessibility, and inclusion implications; and
    • any other information that will help the jury assess the nominee’s eligibility vis-à-vis the criteria noted above.

Jury

A jury of five members (including the Jury Chair), one of whom is the immediate Past-Chair of the Research Engagement Committee (REC), and one alternate shall be appointed by the Awards & Honors Committee at the recommendation of the Jury Chair. One jury member will be appointed by the funding sponsor of the award. (Rutgers 2024-2029) Jury members must:

  • Be a member in good standing of ASIS&T;
  • Not be a member of any other ASIS&T committee (with the exception of the immediate Past-Chair of REC);
  • Not submit a nomination for the award in the year of their jury service; and
  • Declare any conflict of interest related to any nominee for the award and recuse themselves from the jury should the conflict be deemed significant by the Jury Chair (in which case the alternate would be appointed).

Selection Process

  • The jury will utilize both asynchronous scoring and synchronous discussion to arrive at a final decision as to who wins any award.
  • Through the evaluation platform or system, jury members will rate each nominee on a scale of 10 (highest) to 1 (lowest) on each of the five criteria listed above. Jury members should also submit a brief synopsis summarizing the most exemplary accomplishments of that nominee.
  • The jury chair shall tally the votes, with each of the five categories weighted as designated. In the event of a tie that cannot be resolved through synchronous discussion, the jury chair will identify an additional jury member to break the tie. This new jury member will evaluate only the tied nominations and will rate them using the same criteria used by the other jurors.
  • The jury chair shall use the qualitative feedback from the jury as well as their own judgment to write a ~ 250-word citation stating the rationale for making the award.

Nature of the Award

The ASIS&T Research Impact Award was established in 2023. The Award is sponsored by the Association-at-Large and is administered by the Awards & Honors Committee. The award consists of a plaque. The winner(s) shall be given the opportunity to make brief remarks regarding the body of work at the ASIS&T Annual Meeting.

 

Presentation of the Award

The award shall be presented at the ASIS&T Annual Meeting.

Important Dates

Jury Appointment: March 15

Submission Deadline: March 31 (or adjacent weekday)

Selection Deadline: May 15