NOMINATIONS FOR THE W.F. THOMPSON AWARD FOR BEST STUDENT PAPER

WILL BE CONSIDERED IN 2025

​

The W. F. Thompson Best Student Paper Award is given annually to recognize excellence in research, as well as to encourage student professionalism in fisheries and aquatic sciences and publication of research results. All scientists are eligible as long as the senior author conducted the research while a student in the field of fisheries/aquatic sciences. The award includes a check for up to $1,000 and a one-year membership to AIFRB.

​

Nomination Instructions

Nominations for the award may be submitted by the author or a 3rd-party, including academic advisors, supervisors, colleagues, etc.  The submission package should include: 1) a letter of nomination; 2) the student’s resume or CV, including details of education and employment and; 3) a copy of the publication. Submissions in MSWord or as pdf documents are required. 

 

Submit nominations to:

Interim Chair: Steve Cadrin

Email: scadrin@umassd.edu

Subject: AIFRB W.F. Thompson Award Nomination

​

Qualifications

• Research must have been conducted while the nominee was a student at an institution of higher learning

• Papers must have a focus on fisheries/aquatic science

• Research must have been published in a recognized scientific journal, or as all or part of a book, within three years of termination of student status

  • If a paper does not meet this requirement, due to an uncontrollable reason, such as military service, etc., it may still be considered

• Multiple authorship is permissible, provided the nominated student is the senior author

• If the winning paper is based upon research carried out independently by two or more student co-authors, monetary award will be divided equally

• Previous winners are eligible to receive a second award, provided the research is distinctly different and conducted in support of two different degrees

• If two or more papers based on the same thesis or dissertation are submitted, they will be judged separately
   

Review Criteria

Submitted nominations are reviewed by the W.F. Thompson Award Chairperson and members of AIFRB who are selected by the Chairperson on the basis of competence in the subjects of the submitted papers.  Review criteria include the following:

​

Contribution to fisheries science: 50%
Does the paper address an important issue? Are results likely to change how people think about an issue? Will results influence management of a fisheries resource? Does the paper identify an emerging issue? Does the paper have applicability to future work? 

Originality: 25% 
The student developed a new or novel approach. The student used a conventional approach, but interjected some original thinking. The student used a conventional approach, with no novel additions. 

 

Presentation: 25% 

Is the paper easily read and readily understood? Is the problem well developed? Are the methodologies and analyses sound? Does the discussion provide a good synthesis of new findings with current knowledge? 
 

​

​