The Section on Statistics and the Environment (ENVR) is sponsoring a student paper competition on the topic of environmental statistics. Papers can consist of novel approaches to the analysis of environmental data, new methodology with a clear application to an environmental statistical issue, or application of statistics to environmental problems. The selected winner will present his/her paper in a contributed session at the Joint Statistical Meetings (JSM) in August of 2013 and receive a $1,000 stipend toward reimbursing the expenses for attending JSM. The deadline for submission is December 15 at 5 p.m. eastern standard time.

To be eligible, applicants must be in a college program and the first author of the paper. Applicants are required to submit a letter that verifies their student status from a faculty member familiar with their work. In the case of joint authorship, the letter must indicate what fraction of the contribution is attributable to the applicant.

Also, applicants must submit an abstract by February 1, 2013, to the ASA and request a presentation in an ENVR session. Applicants must follow all rules required for paper submission and attendance at JSM.

Papers must be entirely double-spaced (abstract, main body, references, footnotes, and appendices), use at least 11-point type, have at least 1-inch margins all around, and be no longer than 26 pages (inclusive of all figures, tables, and bibliography). Materials must be submitted electronically in PDF format and be in English.

Selection will be based primarily on statistical innovation and significance of the contribution to environmental science. The decision of the selection committee will be final. For more information, email Andrew Lawson at lawsonab@musc.edu.