Call for Nominations: Distinguished Achievement Award and Early Investigator Award

The ASA Section on Statistics and the Environment (ENVR) is seeking nominations for the 2025 ENVR Distinguished Achievement Award (DAA) (formerly, Distinguished Achievement Medal) and the 2025 ENVR Early Investigator Award (EIA). Both are given in recognition of outstanding contributions to the development of methods, issues, concepts, applications, and initiatives in environmental statistics. The section uses a broad definition of environmental statistics--from theoretical/foundational through applications and policy--and seeks to recognize the full range of activities that academic, governmental, and industrial statisticians and scientists study in statistics and the environment. Environmental statistics is interdisciplinary, and outstanding contributions may occur outside of traditional disciplinary niches.

To be eligible for a Distinguished Achievement Award, a nominee must (a) have made distinguished contributions to environmental statistics; (b) have been a member of ENVR for the three years prior to June 1, 2025, with current membership in ENVR; (c) have not received the award in a previous year; and (d) have received their terminal degree at least 15 years prior to the nomination deadline.

The Early Investigator Award is meant to encourage and recognize newer members of the environmental statistics community. To be eligible for the Early Investigator Award, a nominee must (a) have made outstanding contributions to environmental statistics and show potential for future distinction; (b) have been a member of ENVR for the year prior to June 1, 2025 with current membership in ENVR; (c) not have been a recipient of the Early Investigator Award from a previous year; (d) not have been awarded the Distinguished Achievement Award, and (e) have received their terminal degree within 12 years of the nomination year; for example, for nominations submitted for 2025, candidates should have received their degree in 2013 or later.

For both awards, the Committee considers only those members for whom nominations are submitted. Committee members do not offer nominations but encourage ASA members to make a thorough search for good candidates. Nominators and letter writers are limited to at most two letters of support between Distinguished Achievement and Early Investigator Awards per year.

For the 2025 competition, nomination materials must consist of the following:

  • A nomination letter featuring the nominee's contributions to environmental statistics including a draft citation statement of 50 words or less that concisely describes achievements for which the nominee is being nominated. The letter should include a clear statement for which of the two awards the nominee should be considered as well as a statement of eligibility for the award (including ENVR membership requirements).
  • A nomination letter featuring the nominee's contributions to environmental statistics including a draft citation statement of 50 words or less that concisely describes achievements for which the nominee is being nominated.
  • A brief CV for the nominee, not exceeding five pages.
  • At least one (1) and up to three (3) external letters of support (note: letter writers are limited to supporting just two candidates per year, total, for either the DAA or the EIA)

All nomination materials must be received by March 31, 2025, and should be submitted electronically as a PDF document (preferred) or a Word file. Nominations from past years will not be considered unless they are formally resubmitted during 2025. Submit nominations through the google form

Should you have any questions, please email Steve Sain (sainsr2@gmail.com).

Members of the ENVR Awards Committee will make the selection, and successful nominees will receive their award at the ENVR business meeting and reception during the Joint Statistical Meetings in Nashville, Tennessee. Questions regarding the award should be addressed to Steve Sain at the address listed above.