At the August 2020 Business/Council meeting, the Science, Knowledge and Technology (SKAT) section of American Sociological Association decided to form an ad-hoc committee to explore how our scholarly community might support anti-racist action. The committee has been meeting regularly and consulted both with current SKAT Council members and past SKAT chairs to develop a proposal for TWO new awards that together will recognize the work of Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) who contribute to the vibrant scholarship in our corner of sociology. At the same time, we hope this recognition draws a more diverse section membership and a wider range of intellectual work. The first award recognizes written scholarship. The second award recognizes the often-invisible work done by BIPOC scholars and community members who help to make SKAT scholarship possible. Information on the awards is in the Call for Nominations below. 

Call for Nominations

The Science, Knowledge and Technology (SKAT) section of the American Sociological Association invites nominations for two new annual awards beginning in 2021 to recognize the work and contributions by BIPOC knowledge producers.

The first award, the Ida B. Wells-Troy Duster Award, will be granted for written scholarship related to the field of sociology of science, knowledge, and technology, preferably work that develops understanding of Black, African American, or Indigenous intersections with science, knowledge, and technology in the spirit of anti-racism. Priority will be given to work that, in the tradition of Wells, involves pioneering investigation of neglected arenas of social injustice. SKAT is delighted to honor eminent sociologist Troy Duster (past President of ASA, and mentor to many), and his pathbreaking grandmother Ida B. Wells with the name of this award. To encourage career development among junior scholars, who are otherwise disadvantaged as applicants for such awards, preference will be given to applicants who are Black, Indigenous or People of Color (BIPOC) and located in non-tenure track positions. Eligible works include work in progress and published articles and chapters of no more than 10,000 words. Books may be considered in part (for example, chapters of published books or edited volumes). All authors of a submitted collaborative work must not hold a tenured appointment in higher education. The published works must have publication dates of no more than two years prior to award year (2019 for the 2021 award). Self-nominations are encouraged from students, postdoctoral scholars, and those in contingent or short-term academic positions. Sociologists may put forward their work for consideration for this award and for any of the other SKAT awards at the same time.

The Wells-Duster award comes with a $500 prize.

The second award, the Emancipatory Practice in SKAT Award, will be granted to recognize the often-hidden contributions that Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) make to the production of knowledge and sustaining of community in sociology, and from which SKAT has benefited. Nominations are welcome for creative contributions and work not traditionally recognized, including mentoring, public engagement through social media/blogs, ways of knowing that may challenge traditional science, activist leadership, artistic works including films, and social justice curriculum development. Nomination letters should name a person who identifies as BIPOC, and describe the contribution the nominee has made and how the contribution supports BIPOC communities in sociology or has implications for shaping SKAT knowledge. Collective contributions should identify 1-2 leaders to receive the award. Nominees must identify as BIPOC and may be at any career stage or location inside or outside academia. Nomination letters should be limited to 2 single-spaced pages and include the contact information of the nominator for potential follow-up. Self-nominations are welcome.

The Emancipatory Practice in SKAT award comes with a $250 prize.

SKAT welcomes nominations for these two new awards from people who are not currently SKAT (or ASA) members. The award will come with membership in ASA and the SKAT section, if the selected recipient is not currently a member.

The deadline for nominations is March 1, 2021. The selected prize winners will be presented with their award at the annual meeting of the ASA in August 2021, during the SKAT reception or business meeting. Please send nominations (pdf of written work for Wells-Duster Award or 2- page nomination letter for Emancipatory Practice Award) to SKAT Chair, Laurel Smith-Doerr (lsmithdoerr@umass.edu).  

Please feel free to contact any of the members of the Ad-hoc Committee for Anti-racist Action in SKAT if you have questions: 

Emily Vasquez (eev2105@columbia.edu)
Santiago Molina (santiagojmolina@berkeley.edu)
Kevin Moseby (kmm647@drexel.edu)
Diana Graizbord (dgraizbord@uga.edu)
Cal Garrett (cgarre8@uic.edu)