ISTR New Scholars Prize Call for Papers 2016

Irish Society for Theatre Research

 New Scholars Prize 2016

 Call for Papers

 ISTR runs an annual essay competition for New Scholars. There is no set theme for this competition; rather, candidates are encouraged to submit work drawing on their current research. New research, or essays developed from papers presented at the preceding conference are welcome. The New Scholars Prize is awarded to the best essay, judged on originality, coherence and rigour.

Essays must be between 4 000 – 6 000 words (excluding bibliography) and should not be published or submitted for publication in advance of the award announcement. They will be judged anonymously; hence, the author’s name must not appear anywhere in the essay itself. All submissions must be accompanied by a cover sheet, must be presented with attention to correct spelling and stylistics and referenced according to a standard norm (i.e. MLA or Chicago style). Candidates should submit entries in English in MS Word format to the Convenor of the Prize Committee, Dr Ondřej Pilný at ondrej.pilny(at)volny.cz.

 Eligibility: A New Scholar is defined as a graduate student, post-doctoral researcher whose PhD has been completed less than three years ago, or a researcher without a PhD who has been in an academic post for less than three years. Membership of ISTR is not necessary to enter the competition, but prize winners will need to join ISTR to attend the conference where the prize will be awarded.

Deadline: 8 February 2016.

 The judges for the New Scholars Prizes in 2016 are Dr Ondřej Pilný, Charles University, Prague; Dr Miriam Haughton, NUI Galway; and Dr Aoife McGrath, Queen’s University Belfast. The best three essays will be shortlisted for the Prize, and the final Guest Adjudicator will select the winner. The final adjudicator for 2016 will be Prof. Mária Kurdi (University of Pécs). Previous final adjudicators included Prof. Marvin Carlson, Prof. Helen Burke, Prof. Lionel Pilkington and Prof. Chris Morash.

Results of the competition will be announced at the next ISTR conference at the Waterford Institute of Technology (22–23 April 2016). The prize-winner is expected to make their own travel and accommodation arrangements.