The panel members are:
Jan White (ODPM, Chair)
Mike Ash (ODPM, Head of Profession)
Simin Davoudi (PRN Co-ordinator)
Patsy Healey (PRN, Editor of Planning Theory and Practice Journal)
Lee Shostak (PRN, Shared Intelligence)
Cecelia Wong (PRN, Co-editor of Town Planning Review)
Eligibility Criteria
The prize is aimed at encouraging research students and young researchers to undertake planning research of high quality. To be eligible to enter the competition, the paper has to be:
• Written by researchers who are at an early stage of their research career, i.e. having less than two years of experience in conducting research in a UK research or consultancy institution. All registered or recently graduated students from UK Universities are eligible.
• Of direct relevance to spatial planning.
• Research-based, providing an authoritative review of current thinking on a particular aspect of planning, reporting on the findings of an original research into planning issues, or making a theoretical contribution to the understanding of planning futures.
• Up-to-date and recently written (either in the current year or a year before) and preferably unpublished. It could be based on an unpublished dissertation, thesis, departmental working paper, research report, etc.
• Between 4000-6000 words with full bibliographical references
Selection Procedure
• The prize will be awarded once a year .
• All university departments with a planning and geography curriculum as well as major planning consultancy firms will be invited to nominate one paper written by a young researcher or a research student.
• Nominated papers will be reviewed anonymously and scored, according to the criteria set out below, by members of PRN.
• Papers with high ranking will be reviewed by the Selection Panel who will deliberate on the selection of the best paper for the award.
• PRN Management Board will announce the winner.
The Selection Criteria
The best paper will be selected on the basis of the extent to which it has achieved the following qualities:
• Relevance to topical and significant planning issues in conceptual, policy or practice terms
• Clarity of understanding of the context and key debates
• Independent and creative thoughts and ideas
• Appropriate and accurate evidence
• Breadth and depth of coverage
• Logical and coherent arguments
• Clarity of expression, intelligibility of structure, lucidity of written style, appropriateness of presentation and adequacy of referencing system
The Award
The author (s) of the best paper will be invited to:
• Present their paper at one of the annual PRN events
• Receive a certificate
• Post their paper on the PRN website
• Submit their paper to be considered for publication in one of the planning journals that are represented on PRN
Timetable
• Request for nominations: January
• Deadline for submission of the papers: May
• Completion of the review process by PRN members: June
• Completion of the selection process: July/August
• Presentation of the award: October
Further Information
Simin Davoudi
Email: simin.davoudi@newcastle.ac.uk
