BSG Rising Star Award

Purpose of the Award

The British Society of Gerontology Rising Star Award recognises emerging researchers, practitioners, educators, policy specialists or knowledge exchange professionals who are making a significant and distinctive contribution to ageing, later life, and social gerontology.

The award is intended to celebrate individuals who are still at an early stage in their career but who have already demonstrated excellence, initiative and promise. It recognises not only academic achievement, but also broader contributions to ageing research, practice, policy, education, public engagement and the work of the BSG community.

The award seeks to highlight future leaders in the field: individuals whose work is helping to advance understanding of ageing and later life, improve practice or policy, support interdisciplinary collaboration, and strengthen the visibility and relevance of social gerontology.

Eligibility

Nominees should normally be at an early stage in their career. This may include individuals who are:

• within five years of starting their current substantive post; and/or
• within seven years of completing their PhD or equivalent professional qualification; and/or
• able to demonstrate that they are at an equivalent early-career stage, including those with non-linear career pathways.

The BSG recognises that career trajectories vary. Appropriate consideration will be given to career breaks, part-time working, caring responsibilities, periods of ill health, disability, parental leave, changes of discipline, movement between practice and academia and other circumstances that may have affected career progression.

Nominees may work in universities, research institutes, policy organisations, charities, public bodies, community organisations, professional practice or other settings connected to ageing and later life.

Previous winners of the Rising Star Award are not eligible to be nominated again for the same award.

Nomination Requirements 

Nominations should include:

1. A nomination statement of no more than 1000 words explaining why the nominee should receive the award. This should cover:

• Evidence of contribution to ageing research, practice, policy, education or public engagement. This may include publications, reports, projects, teaching, community work, policy contributions, media engagement, practice innovations, knowledge exchange or other relevant outputs.
• Evidence of emerging leadership. This may include leadership of projects, networks, events, special interest groups, collaborations, grant applications, public engagement activities, teaching initiatives, practice developments or contributions to professional communities.
• Evidence of contribution or commitment to the BSG and/or the wider social gerontology community. This may include conference participation, SIG activity, committee work, mentoring, peer support, public engagement, collaboration, reviewing, editorial activity or other forms of service.

Nominations should clearly indicate the nominee’s career stage and any relevant contextual information that the judging panel should take into account.

How to Nominate 

Nominees do not have to be a member of the BSG. 

Nominations require 2 nominators, at least one of whom must be a member of the BSG.

The consent of any nominees should be sought before nominations are submitted. Those nominating should please submit:

• A statement in support of the nomination of no more than 1000 words. The statement should clearly highlight the outstanding contribution to our gerontological understanding of ageing or to improving the lives of older people. The nomination may be for a one-time outstanding achievement or for a body of work over time.

The Judging Panel includes the current BSG Executive Committee. 

The BSG will continue to accept nominations throughout the year. The panel will make its decision during May, with the award winner and nominator being informed before the end of May. Other nominees will also be informed at that time.

The award will be presented during the opening ceremony of the Society’s annual conference.

Please note, the BSG reserves the right not to make an award in any given year. The judges’ decision is final and no communications about the decision will be entered into.

Please complete the following online form to nominate. 

If you have any questions, then please do contact the BSG Secretariat on info@britishgerontology.org.