THE RANGELAND JOURNAL ANNOUNCES NEW STUDENT PAPER PRIZE

December 6, 2024

The Rangeland Journal is pleased to announce the launch of the Student Paper Prize, an annual award that recognizes outstanding research by an author that advances our understanding of the biophysical, social, cultural, economic, and policy influences affecting rangeland use and management. This prize aims to encourage and support the next generation of researchers who are contributing to the field’s development through innovative and high-quality research.

Prize Criteria

The Student Paper Prize will be awarded to a paper that demonstrates:

Scientific Contribution: The paper must make a significant contribution to advancing basic or applied research within the scope of the journal.
Relevance and Impact: The research should offer new insights into the understanding of rangeland management as defined by the scope of the journal.
Clarity and Rigor: The paper should be clearly written, methodologically sound, and accessible to the diverse readership of the journal, which includes researchers from physical, biological, and social sciences.
Quality of Language and Writing: When making their decision, the committee will consider the quality of the author’s first submission of the paper.

Eligibility and Selection Process

Eligibility: To be eligible for the Award, the publication must comprise original research that represents student work – i.e. research as part of a degree programme, such as honours, MSc or PhD – and must have been published within 2 years of the student completing the degree. The student should have made the primary contribution to the paper. Certification is required from the student’s supervisor when requested by the editorial team. The student must be the first author of the paper and will need to identify themselves as eligible for the prize via the ScholarOne Tick-box relevant to this prize.
Nominations: The editorial board will review all eligible papers and create a shortlist of outstanding submissions based on the prize criteria.
Evaluation: The shortlisted papers will be evaluated by a dedicated committee of editorial board members, considering the scientific merit, innovation, and potential impact of the research.
Decision: The winning paper will be selected by a majority vote of the editorial board members. The decision will be based on a thorough assessment of the shortlisted papers.
Announcement: The winner will be announced on the journal’s website and through our social media channels in the first quarter of the following year.

Prize Benefits

The winner of the Student Paper Prize will receive:

A certificate of recognition from The Rangeland Journal.
A spotlight feature on the journal’s website.
A $250 CSIRO Publishing Book voucher

*The Rangeland Journal Student Paper Prize will be presented for the first time in 2026, considering papers that have been published in 2025.