The Washington Association of Professional Anthropologists (WAPA) has opened the 2023 Praxis Award Competition, which recognizes professional excellence in translating anthropological knowledge into action. The award is open to anthropologists with a minimum of an MA/MAA, and successful applicants must demonstrate the impact of their involvement in a specific project or activity. The deadline for pre-applications is June 30, 2023, and the deadline for full applications is September 1, 2023. The winner(s) will receive a $1000 financial award, a Praxis certificate, and will be recognized at the 2024 annual meeting of the Society for Applied Anthropology in Santa Fe, New Mexico.
About the Praxis Award
The Praxis Award competition has a rich history that dates back to 1981. The award aims to recognize outstanding achievement in translating anthropological knowledge into action in a single project or specific endeavor. The competition is open to anyone holding an MA or PhD in any sub-field of anthropology, and in exceptional cases, applicants with a BA in anthropology may also be considered.
The award recipients receive a $1000 prize and are recognized at a Praxis Award ceremony and reception at the meeting of the Society for Applied Anthropology. The Praxis Award was established to acknowledge the significant, groundbreaking work performed by anthropologists in government and industry in addressing their clients’ problems.
The first Praxis Award was given in 1981 and again in 1982. Since then, the award has been given every other year in odd-numbered years. The year 2011 marked the 30th anniversary and the 17th competition of the Praxis Award. The list of Praxis Award recipients is updated biennially as new recipients are announced.
The award aims to recognize anthropologists who have demonstrated the value of anthropological knowledge in addressing public or private sector problems. The projects or endeavors may be ongoing at the time of submitting the application, and no more than seven years should have passed between the project conclusion and the award entry receipt. Exceptions will be made for extraordinary projects and efforts. The award is not a career or lifetime achievement award, but rather it recognizes the value of applying anthropology to specific problems and projects.
Official Announcement
WAPA announces the opening of the 2023 Praxis Award Competition, a biennial award that recognizes professional excellence and outstanding achievement “in translating anthropological knowledge into action as reflected in a single project or specific endeavor” (WAPA website). Anthropologists who have earned a minimum of an MA/MAA are eligible to apply for this prestigious award. Successful applicants are anthropologists who are able to demonstrate clearly and compellingly the “anthropological difference” their involvement had in the outcomes or impacts of a specific project or activity. The Praxis committee will consider applications for projects or activities that are ongoing at the time of application or have concluded within the past seven years of application. The 2023 Praxis award winner(s) or honorable mention(s) will be formally recognized at the 2024 annual meeting of the Society for Applied Anthropology in Santa Fe, New Mexico. The Praxis award winner(s) receive(s) a $1000 (one thousand dollar) financial award and Praxis certificate, and their award is publicized by the Praxis committee to media outlets and the WAPA Praxis website.
The guidelines for the 2023 Praxis award are posted on WAPA’s website or you can write directly to me, Bill Roberts, praxisaward2023@gmail.com. Beginning in 2019 the Praxis award committee encourages but does not require prospective applicants to complete a short, two – three-page pre-application. The deadline for pre-applications is Friday, June 30, 2023. Pre-applications will be reviewed by Praxis Committee members as they are received, and returned to the applicant with specific feedback that can be used to strengthen their full application. The deadline for full applications is Friday, September 1, 2023.
