WAGS/UMI Master's Thesis and Technology Awards
Quick Facts
Distinguished Master's Thesis Award - Nominations for the 2011-2012 WAGS/UMI Distinguished Master's Thesis Award will be accepted from any graduate program or department that offers a master's degree. The scholarly “product” eligible for this competition is a formal written thesis. Nominees must have earned the master's degree within the period of July 1, 2010, through June 30, 2011.
Innovation in Technology Award - This award may be given either to a master's thesis or to a doctoral dissertation for the development of an innovative technology and its utilization for the creative solution of a major problem. Nominees must have earned the master's or doctoral degree within the period of July 1, 2010, through June 30, 2011.
The 2011-2012 awards consist of a certificate of award, $1,000 to the recipient, and travel expenses for the student and the student's advisor to receive the award at the annual meeting of the Association.
Friday, July 15, 2011
Eligibility
Distinguished Master's Thesis Award
Nominations for the 2011-2012 WAGS/UMI Distinguished Master's Thesis Award will be accepted from any graduate program or department that offers a master's degree. The scholarly “product” eligible for this competition is a formal written thesis. If a nominating department offers both a thesis option and a project option, only the thesis is acceptable for consideration for this award. Nominees must have earned the master's degree within the period of July 1, 2010, through June 30, 2011.
Innovation in Technology Award
This award may be given either to a master's thesis or to a doctoral dissertation for the development of an innovative technology and its utilization for the creative solution of a major problem. Nominees must have earned the master's or doctoral degree within the period of July 1, 2010, through June 30, 2011.
Evaluation Criteria
Selection criteria for the Distinguished Master's Thesis Award include:
- originality
- significance of the study
- overall quality
- outcomes and accomplishments from the thesis
Selection criteria for the Innovation in Technology Award include:
- originality
- creativity
- scholarly significance of the use of technology
- overall quality
- technological contribution to the degree program and/or the institution may also be a consideration
Procedures
Students should contact their graduate program well in advance of The Faculty of Graduate Studies deadline for application procedures.
Distinguished Master's Thesis Award application materials must include:
- A non-technical summary prepared by the student (1,000-1,500 words) describing the research and its significance for a general academic audience of non-specialists.
- A table of contents for the nominated thesis.
- A letter from the department head or major professor. The letter should include information regarding the significance of the thesis, the contribution of the thesis to the program of the degree granting unit, and the impact of the thesis on the knowledge base of the discipline.
- A letter from one additional faculty member. The letter should include information regarding the significance of the thesis, the contribution of the thesis to the program of the degree granting unit, and the impact of the thesis on the knowledge base of the discipline.
- A cv or resume from the student nominee
Innovation in Technology Award application materials must include:
- A summary prepared by the student (100-1,500 words) describing the research and how it demonstrates innovative or creative use of technology in the conduct of scholarship. This summary should be directed to a general academic audience of non-specialists.
- A letter from the major professor / faculty research supervisor. The letter should include information regarding the significance of the technological innovations in the work for the discipline, and for the student’s department and institution.
- A letter from one additional faculty member. The letter should include information regarding the significance of the technological innovations in the work for the discipline, and for the student’s department and institution
- A cv or resume from the student nominee
Each program can select one application for the Distinguished Master's Thesis Award and one application for the Innovation in Technology Award to forward to The Faculty of Graduate Studies. Electronic submission is preferred. Complete applications can be submitted as .pdf documents by email to graduate.awards@ubc.ca.
Each nomination can be submitted as either a single .pdf file, or a series of clearly named .pdf files. Please include the student number(s) of nominee(s).
The Faculty of Graduate Studies will convene an adjudication commitee composed of UBC faculty members to review nominations submitted by graduate programs and select one UBC nominee for each award to forward to the national competition.
Further Information
Students selected as finalists in the international competition will be asked to provide three complete copies of the thesis or dissertation.
List of previous award winners is available on the WAGS website.
