Theme: Decision-Making
Deadline for Submission: May 31, 2020
An email to the Institute of intent to nominate would be appreciated by April 30, 2020.
Prize: $250,000
The Franklin Institute seeks nominations for the 2021 Bower Award and Prize for Achievement in Science of individuals who have made significant contributions to the scientific understanding of decision-making. The interdisciplinary field of decision-making integrates theory and methods from economics, psychology, neuroscience, computer science, and related areas to understand the mechanisms through which individuals and groups choose among competing possibilities and how these mechanisms guide behavior. Nominations are encouraged in, but not limited to, the following subtopics and their intersections:
- Psychological insights: mechanisms, development, context-dependence, individual differences, cultural variation, evolution
- Modeling of individual or group choice behavior: valuation, social preferences, impulsivity, strategy, network models
- Neurobiological mechanisms: human neuroscience, model organisms, behavioral neuroscience, genetic approaches, comparative approaches
- Clinical approaches: pharmacology, psychiatric disorders, neuropsychological conditions
- Development of interventions to improve individual and/or group decision-making outcomes
- Broad applications: artificial intelligence, courts/law, education, finance, health/medicine, government/public policy, intelligence, labor, technology
Nominations should clearly indicate the scientific impact—innovative, technical, and/or conceptual—and, when applicable, the societal and/or economic impact of the nominee’s work.
Eligibility
This is an international competition for individuals who have made significant contributions to research in decision-making and/or its applications. Candidates must be living, and the winner must participate in The Franklin Institute Awards Week programs, to be held in April 2021 in Philadelphia. Nominations from any individual will be accepted, including self-nominations.
Nomination Procedure
Nominations must include:
- Name and contact information of nominee
- Name and contact information of nominator
- Nominee’s curriculum vitae and bibliography of significant and relevant publications
- Proposed citation of 50 words or fewer, highlighting the achievement(s) for which the candidate is nominated
- Narrative statement describing the nominee’s qualifications for the award
- Four confidential letters of support requested by the nominator, sent directly to The Franklin Institute Awards Office
All nominations and supporting letters should be mailed or emailed to:
Beth Scheraga
Director, The Franklin Institute Awards
The Franklin Institute
222 North 20th Street
Philadelphia, PA 19103-1194
Email: bscheraga@fi.edu