Peter Kong-ming New Award

Scholarship Sponsored by Society for Applied Anthropology

Overview

The Peter Kong-ming New Student Research Competition is an annual award administered by the Society for Applied Anthropology to recognize exceptional student research in applied social and behavioral sciences. The competition highlights work that addresses practical problems in health care and human services. Submissions are expected to be original, single-authored research projects grounded in fieldwork. The award supports early-career scholars and promotes dissemination of applied research findings.

Description: The competition honors student papers that demonstrate rigorous field research and clear contributions to applied social science practice, especially in health and human services.

• Annual competition for student-authored applied research.
• Focus on health care and human services topics.
• Emphasizes original, field-based social science research.

History of the Award

The prize commemorates Peter Kong-ming New, a medical sociologist-anthropologist and former president of the SfAA, whose career emphasized applying social science to health and human services. His family continues to support the competition and its mission to foster the next generation of applied social scientists. The award reflects New’s commitment to research that informs policy and practice in health-related fields. It serves both as a memorial and as a mechanism to advance applied scholarship.

History of the Award: Established to honor Peter Kong-ming New’s legacy, the competition is sustained by family support and SfAA stewardship.

• Named for Peter Kong-ming New, a leader in medical sociology and anthropology.
• Family-supported to preserve and extend his legacy.
• Intended to promote applied research with real-world impact.

Eligibility

The competition is open to students enrolled at the undergraduate or graduate level during the calendar year preceding the award presentation. Individuals who already hold a doctorate are not eligible to enter. Submissions must be single-authored and based on original, unpublished field research in the social sciences. Previous first- and second-place winners are barred from future participation to preserve opportunities for others.

Eligibility: Entrants must be current students (undergraduate or graduate), not doctorate holders, and submit original, single-authored, unpublished field research.

• Open to undergraduates and graduate students enrolled in the prior calendar year.
• Doctorate holders are ineligible.
• Submissions must be single-authored, original, and unpublished field research.
• First- and second-place past winners cannot re-enter.

Selection Criteria

Entries are evaluated on the strength of their original contribution, methodological rigor, clarity of analysis and presentation, and relevance to applied social science. The review process prioritizes research that demonstrates sound design and methods appropriate to the questions posed. Clear communication of findings and implications for practice or policy are essential. The selection criteria aim to identify work that advances applied understanding in health and human services.

1. Originality
2. Research design and methods
3. Clarity of analysis and presentation
4. Contribution to applied social sciences

• Focus on methodological rigor and originality.
• Clear presentation and actionable implications are valued.
• Evaluation stresses contribution to applied practice and knowledge.

Award Benefits

The competition awards cash prizes, travel stipends, and conference lodging to winners, with distinct benefits for first, second, and third place. The top prize includes a monetary award, a commemorative trophy, and support to attend the SfAA Annual Meeting. Winners receive travel stipends and lodging to facilitate presentation of their work to the professional community. These benefits are intended to support dissemination and professional development for emerging scholars.

Award Value:

First Place: $3,000, an engraved Steuben crystal trophy, a $350 travel stipend, and two nights’ lodging at the SfAA Annual Meeting.

Second Place: $1,500, a $350 travel stipend, and two nights’ lodging.

Third Place: $750, a $350 travel stipend, and two nights’ lodging.

• Monetary awards for first, second, and third place.
• Travel stipends and lodging provided to support conference attendance.
• First-place winner receives an engraved trophy in addition to the cash prize.

Additional Information

First-place recipients are required to present their paper at the SfAA Annual Meeting. The top paper must also be submitted to Human Organization for editorial review and consideration for publication. These requirements support peer review and broader dissemination of winning research. Entrants should plan for potential presentation and publication steps if awarded first place.

Presentation Requirement: The first-place winner must present at the SfAA meeting and submit the paper to Human Organization for possible publication.

• First-place winners must present at the SfAA Annual Meeting.
• Top papers are submitted to Human Organization for review and possible publication.
• Presentation and publication processes help amplify the impact of the research.