A sidney prize is an award that honors people who are doing good for humanity. The awards come in different categories – such as writing contests, activist awards and science prizes – but all have the same goal of rewarding those who are making an impact while inspiring others to follow suit. These prizes can be awarded at any level – from local to global – and come with certain specifications for eligibility.
The Sydney Prize honours scientists who are addressing social issues in their work. Moreover, it also recognizes writers and journalists who write about topics that impact everyday life. The awards were established to commemorate Dartmouth College professor Sidney Cox, who inspired thousands of students both inside and outside his classes. The prize is given to undergraduate writing that adheres to the high standards of originality and integrity set by Professor Cox.
SHOT offers a number of fellowships and awards each year to support scholars at various stages in their careers. These include: Leonardo da Vinci Medal: Awarded annually to an individual who has made outstanding contributions to the history of technology through research, teaching, publications or service to the Society. Sidney Edelstein Book Prize: Awarded annually to an outstanding scholarly book on the history of technology intended for non-specialist readers. Melvin Kranzberg Dissertation Fellowship: Awarded annually to a student preparing a dissertation on a topic related to the history of technology. Brooke Hindle Postdoctoral Fellowship: Awarded to an early career scholar preparing a book manuscript or conducting research for a new project.
In addition to these, SHOT also supports the Neilma Sidney Short Story Prize. The competition is open to all writers in the United States and internationally, at any stage of their writing career. The winner will receive a $5000 first prize and will be published in Overland. Two runners-up will each receive $750. Writers can subscribe to Overland at a special rate of $12 per year and enter the competition for free.
The judges of the Sydney Prize will ask each entry if it “takes up the voice or experience of a marginalised or vulnerable identity. For example, if the piece is about indigenous peoples, are you an Aboriginal person?” The response to this question is not mandatory. The judges will only see the answer if they request it after considering the entry.
The winners of the Sydney Prize will be announced on the second Wednesday of each month. Nominations are accepted until the end of the previous month. The submissions are judged by a panel of three judges, each of whom is an experienced journalist. The winning essay will be published on the Herald’s website and the runners-up will be published in the print edition of the Herald. The authors of the winning essays will receive a $1000 prize, courtesy of Dymocks Books and Tutoring. They will also be given digital subscriptions to the Herald, a tour of the newsroom and the opportunity to pitch four additional pieces for publication.