Award Guidelines

The previous year’s award winners are asked to serve, alongside our RIG’s chairs, as reviewers for the following year’s submissions. Award winners are expected to attend the annual meeting as well as the NRRIG business meeting. Paper award winners are also expected to present their winning paper at the annual meeting.

2021 NRRIG GRADUATE STUDENT PAPER AWARD

The Natural Resources Research Interest Group (NRRIG) of the Rural Sociological Society is soliciting submissions for a graduate student paper award in the area of environmental or natural resources sociology. The paper should be related to the broad interests of the NRRIG. Current graduate students and recent graduates (who received their degrees no earlier than May of the year of award) may apply.

Coauthored papers are acceptable, including those co-authored with faculty. If co-authored, the applicant (a) must be the lead author of the manuscript, and (b) provide a statement detailing the relative contributions of each co-author.

The recipient will receive a monetary prize of at least $100 (final amount TBD based on NRRIG budget). The recipient will be recognized in the RSS eBulletin this year.

To be considered for this award, please send an electronic copy of the full paper with contact information to the NRRIG chair (Cat Edgeley at [email protected]) by May 4 of the year of application. If co-authored, please provide a statement detailing the relative contributions of each co-author.

The paper submission should not exceed 35 double-spaced pages (including all tables, graphs, and references) in a standard font (12 point). The winner will be selected by a committee of NRRIG members and notified by June 1 of the year of application.


Papers will be evaluated using the following criteria:

  1. Advancement of knowledge in the area environmental or natural resources sociology. 
  2. Significance of the topic for the NRRG of the Rural Sociological Society. 
  3. Quality and implementation of the research, theory, and argument. 
  4. Analysis and interpretation of the findings. 
  5. Clarity and organization of the writing.

NRRIG WILLIAM R. FREUDENBURG AWARD OF MERIT

The William R. Freudenburg Award of Merit is presented to recognize exceptional contributions to the sociology of natural resources and the environment. The award is given to recognize an outstanding legacy / collective body of work that has demonstrably impacted natural resources and environmental sociology.

Recipients will have the following qualifications: outstanding research and scholarship as evidenced not solely by numbers of publications, but their impact: simply put, we are looking for recipients who have substantively affected the trajectory of thinking within natural resources and environmental sociology. Such impact may also be evidenced via application of work beyond the academy, such as work with a natural resources agency, organization, or other partnerships. Other contributions to the NRRIG or sociology of natural resources and environment, such as an outstanding legacy of outreach, graduate student mentorship, and/or instruction are also envisioned as important criteria for consideration. Nominees are not required to be present or past members of the NRRIG.

To nominate someone please submit 1) up to three letters of nomination that clearly explain the reasons for considering the nomination and the nominee’s contribution to the sociology of natural resources and environment, as well as 2) a current copy of the nominee's CV. Additional supporting materials may be sent, but are not required. Nomination materials must be submitted to the NRRIG chair, Cat Edgeley ([email protected]) by May 4 of the year of application. If possible, please reach out to Cat as soon as you decide to put a nomination together, so that the NRRIG leadership can provide you with support and ensure no duplicate nominations are being prepared. The winner will be selected by a committee of NRRIG members and notified by June 1 of the year of application.