The Section on Statistics and the Environment (ENVR) is seeking nominations for the ENVR Distinguished Achievement Award and the new ENVR Young Investigator Award. Both awards are given in recognition of outstanding contributions to the development of methods, issues, concepts, applications, and initiatives of environmental statistics. The Young Investigators Award is meant to encourage and recognize younger members of the environmental statistics community.

We use a broad definition of environmental statistics—from theoretical/foundational through applications and policy—and seek to recognize the full range of activities of academic, government, and industrial statisticians and scientists engaged in statistics and the environment. Environmental statistics is interdisciplinary, and outstanding contributions may occur outside of traditional niches defined by disciplines.

To be eligible for a distinguished achievement award, nominees must have made distinguished contributions to environmental statistics; joined ENVR at least three years prior to June 1, 2009; and not have received the award in a previous year.

Criteria for the Young Investigators Award include having made distinguished contributions to environmental statistics; being a current member of ENVR; not being a recipient of the ENVR Distinguished Achievement Award from a previous year; and not having reached his or her 41st birthday during the calendar year of the award. (In the special case of an individual who has received his or her terminal degree in statistics fewer than 12 years prior to the nomination deadline, a nominee will be eligible who has not yet reached his or her 46th birthday during the calendar year of the award.)

For both awards, the committee considers only those members for whom nominations are submitted. Committee members do not offer nominations, but encourage members to make a thorough search for good candidates.

Nomination materials should consist of a nomination letter featuring the nominee’s contributions to environmental statistics, a CV of five or fewer pages for the nominee, up to three supporting letters, and a clear statement for which of the two awards the nominee should be considered. If being considered for the Young Investigators Award, submit the birth date of the nominee. The committee will use the “Jonathanian” method for calculating the age of the nominee.

Nominations must be received by March 15 as a PDF document (preferred) or Word file. If submitted as hard copy, send the original and five copies. Submit nominations to Stephen L. Rathbun at rathbun@uga.edu or Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, 132B, Coverdell Center, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602.

The awards committee will make the selection, and successful nominees will receive their awards at the ENVR business meeting and reception during the Joint Statistical Meetings in Vancouver in August of 2010. Questions regarding the award should be addressed to Rathbun at rathbun@uga.edu.