In its twelfth year running, the APEC Science Prize for Innovation, Research and Education (ASPIRE) is an annual award hosted by the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Policy Partnership for Science, Technology, and Innovation (PPSTI) that recognizes young scientists who have demonstrated a commitment to excellence in scientific research and cross-border collaboration. Each APEC member economy identifies one nominee for the prize, and the U.S. State Department’s Office of Science and Technology Cooperation, in conjunction with the scientific publishers Wiley and Elsevier , holds an annual competition to identify the scientist to represent the United States on the APEC stage.
For 2022, the ASPIRE prize will promote innovative research that advances society through “Innovation to Achieve Economic, Environmental, and Social Goals.”
This theme focuses on advancing the BCG economy concept to integrate a bio-circular-green (BCG) economy model, as well as the Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) practices and the Responsible Business Conduct (RBC) among the private sector. At its core, the theme will showcase impactful research created to transform the whole of society to become more balanced and sustainable. This may include research that encourages biological advances, promotes sustainability, or achieves better understanding of agricultural systems. Nominees should demonstrate a commitment to excellence in scientific research and cooperation with scientists from other APEC member economies, including inclusive and interdisciplinary collaborations, in subjects such as: biology, chemistry, environmental science, physics, mathematics, economics, social sciences and other relevant fields.
Each APEC economy may nominate one individual under 40 years of age in its region for the ASPIRE Prize. The nominees will be judged on their excellence in research and cross-border collaboration with peers from other APEC economies. Nominees should demonstrate a commitment to excellence in scientific research and cooperation with scientists from other APEC member economies, including inclusive and interdisciplinary collaborations, in subjects such as: biology, chemistry, environmental science, physics, mathematics, economics, social sciences and other relevant fields.
The deadline for U.S. nominees is May 27, 2022 using this application. Young scientists from the United States who are engaged in research and/or product commercialization in line with the theme noted above are strongly encouraged to put forward applications or nominate their peers.
Completed applications and any questions should be sent to ASPIREprize@state.gov.
If selected as the U.S. nominee or runner-ups, the nominee and two runner-ups will be invited to a virtual roundtable in summer 2022 and receive cash prizes of $3000 (nominee) and $1200 (two runner-ups). If selected as the APEC-wide winner, the winner will receive USD $25,000 in prize money at an award ceremony at a virtual PPSTI meeting in Thailand notionally in August 2022. Wiley and Elsevier are sponsors of the initiative.
For more information please visit: https://www.apec.org/aspire/aspire-2022 . More on APEC meetings, events, projects and publications can be found on www.apec.org .