Publications update
New journal awards recognize outstanding authors, editors, and reviewers
This year, ASA, CSSA, and SSSA are proud to announce an expansion of the journal awards program. The Societies and journals will be recognizing an outstanding group of authors, editors, and peer reviewers with 10 new awards added to the three awards presented in previous years. The following is an overview of our awards programs and details the recent expansions.
Society Awards
ASA has presented an Outstanding Paper Award since 2018, and we are pleased to announce that CSSA and SSSA will also recognize an outstanding paper starting this year. The award for each Society will go to an article published in that Society’s flagship journal: Agronomy Journal for ASA, Crop Science for CSSA, and Soil Science Society of America Journal for SSSA.
Articles published during the preceding two years are considered for the current year’s award (e.g., articles from 2018 and 2019 are considered for the 2020 award). In general, the selection is based on an evaluation of how the article has advanced knowledge in the profession, the effectiveness of communication, originality, and impact.
Traditionally, the recipients of the Outstanding Paper Awards are recognized at the Annual Meeting during the ASA, CSSA, and SSSA awards ceremonies where the awardees receive framed copies of the front page of the publication with a commemorative citation. This year, the awardees will be recognized during the Virtual Annual Meeting in November and again at the 2021 Annual Meeting in Salt Lake City.
Journal Awards
Outstanding Paper Awards
At the journal level, the Journal of Environmental Quality has presented an Outstanding Paper Award since 2015. As we strive to bring consistency among our journals, the program has been expanded to the following six Society journals: Agricultural & Environmental Letters; Agrosystems, Geosciences & Environment; Crop, Forage & Turfgrass Management; Natural Sciences Education; The Plant Genome; and Vadose Zone Journal.
As with the Society-level awards, articles that are eligible for the journal Outstanding Paper Awards are published during the preceding two years. The articles undergo a selection process based on an evaluation of how the article has advanced knowledge in the profession, the effectiveness of communication, methodology, originality, and impact.
Normally, the journal Outstanding Paper Awards are presented at the Publications Reception during the Annual Meeting. The awardee(s) receives a certificate and recognition in the Annual Meeting “Hall of Fame” poster awards area.
Since 1998, Crop Science has recognized an Outstanding Paper for Division C8 (Plant Genetic Resources). Starting this year, there will also be awards for Outstanding Paper for Division C6 (Forage and Grazinglands) and Division C3 (Crop Ecology, Management, and Quality). Division awards are chosen from all articles published in the preceding calendar year with selection based on appropriate scientific merit in their topic areas. The goal is to include all Crop Science divisions in 2021.
The awards for outstanding division papers in Crop Science consist of a certificate for each author presented at the divisional business meetings and recognition by the Society at the Annual Meeting.
Editors Citation for Excellence
For more than 10 years now, the peer-reviewed journals published by ASA, CSSA, and SSSA annually award associate editors and peer reviewers for outstanding performance. Each editorial board recognizes individuals for excellence in performing their work either as a reviewer or associate editor. The recognition is based on their efforts in establishing a quality review process, for timely and professional manuscript editing, and for overall excellence in managing a professional review process. Each recipient receives a certificate and an award from the journal.
Due to the 2020 Annual Meeting becoming virtual, the award winners will be announced online and awards mailed to the recipients. Additional recognition of the award winners will take place in 2021 at the Annual Meeting in Salt Lake City. The 2020 awardees will also be announced in a future issue of CSA News magazine.
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