ISA Secretary-General's Award for Excellence in Deep-Sea Research

Eligibility 

The Secretary-General’s Award is intended to recognize individual accomplishment. However, there may be cases where the research has been undertaken by a team consisting of eligible candidates. In this case, a team nomination may be submitted. 

• Only candidates under the age of 45 at the date of nomination who are nationals of a developing country, as defined by the United Nations, are eligible to apply. 

• The results of the research for which the nomination is submitted should have been published either in English or French no earlier than one year prior to the submission date. 

• Any individual or team who previously received the Secretary-General’s Award shall not be eligible for nomination. 

Prize 

• Cash prize: USD4,000 

• Cost of attendance of Awardee to annual session of ISA’s Assembly 

• A three-month fellowship in a relevant office of ISA in Kingston 

• Cost of participation of Awardee in one ISA’s workshops on matters of expertise 

• Cost of publication fees of an article written by Awardee in a scientific journal (open access) 

Nomination procedure 

Nominations for the sixth edition of the Award are now open until 11 April 2025.  The following documents are necessary to support nominations: 

• A letter from a nominator summarizing the research and outlining the national or international significance of the work submitted by the candidate. The letter should not exceed 750 words. 

• The curriculum vitae of the candidate. 

• Any publication in English or French derived from the research undertaken. 
• Two letters from sponsors outlining the type and impact of the research carried out by the nominee and attesting to its significance and quality.