2023 Outstanding Performance Award Nomination Form

Nominations Due: Wednesday, February 15, 2023;  Support Letters Due: Friday, February 24, 2023


The CIRES Outstanding Performance Awards are targeted at projects that are novel, high impact, and show remarkable creativity or resourcefulness. You can use the form below to make a Nomination.

As of 2006, these awards have been separated into two distinct categories: *Science and Engineering Awards* and *Service Awards*, recognizing CIRES members for their outstanding contributions to scientific research or engineering work, and for outstanding service in administration, information technology, project management, outreach, or other work not directly related to scientific research or engineering.

The 2023 nominations period has passed.

Nomination and Eligibility Requirements

CIRES annually solicits nominations, from any colleague or associate of a CIRES employee, for outstanding performance by an individual or team during the previous year. These nominations are reviewed by a sub-committee of the CIRES Member's Council (CMC), referred to as the CMC Outstanding Performance Award (OPA) Committee. The Science and Engineering Award recognizes a CIRES member or team for outstanding contributions to scientific research or engineering work, and the Service Award recognizes a CIRES member or team for outstanding service in support of science and engineering.

In evaluating the nominations, careful attention is given to each candidate's eligibility and fulfillment of the award criteria described below. The CMC OPA Committee presents their top recommendations to the CIRES Director for final approval. The CIRES Director makes the final determination of the number of awards to be given.

Awardees receive monetary awards, certificates and their names are engraved on CIRES Outstanding Performance Award plaques that hang in CIRES buildings. Typical award amounts are $2,000 for each award, divided equally among team members.

All regular permanent CIRES employees are eligible. Students who are part of a larger team effort are also eligible. All CIRES Fellows, visiting scientists and senior management are not eligible.

At the time of the nomination deadline, nominees (excepting students) must be active CIRES employees.

In order to receive an OPA award:

  • Nominees (excepting students) must remain CIRES employees at the time of the CIRES Rendezvous.
  • Student nominees must be currently enrolled or have graduated no earlier than one academic year prior to the nomination.

Nominators are encouraged to start the process of reaching out to supporters for letters early on. The requested support letters will be submitted by the references directly to the OPA Committee via the online submittal system.

Please note that a nomination cannot be modified once submitted.

Award Information and Criteria

Science and Engineering Award

Award Information: A program designed to recognize CIRES members for outstanding contributions to scientific research or engineering work.

Do you know a CIRES member or team that has made outstanding contributions to scientific research or engineering work, and had a substantial impact within or external to CIRES? If so, this is an opportunity for you to nominate this individual, or team, for a CIRES award and to formally recognize their contributions.

Up to three outstanding CIRES members, or teams, will be awarded a cash prize up to $2,000 and honored at the annual CIRES Rendezvous.

Award Criteria: In the Science and Engineering category, this may involve any work that is related to the scientific process (forming and testing hypotheses to further our understanding of the environmental sciences). The three criteria used to evaluate each science award nomination are the following:

  • Development of new scientific, engineering and/or software tools or models directly resulting in novel research valuable to CIRES and the wider scientific community.
  • Uncommon initiative, resourcefulness, and/or scientific creativity conducting research with potential to expand or change the direction of a particular field or discipline.
  • Participation in collaborative and/or multidisciplinary research that engages a broader cross-section than the nominee's typical scientific or engineering community.

Note: Projects in the Science and Engineering category are often associated with published or forthcoming results in peer reviewed literature. Please include in the application any relevant scientific references or press coverage the work has received.

Example 1 Example 2

Service Award

Award Information: A program designed to recognize CIRES members for outstanding service in administrative personnel, project/program managers, outreach personnel, Web masters/developers, information technology support personnel, system administrators, user services representatives, writers, library staff, or other work not directly related to scientific research or engineering.

Do you know a CIRES member or team that has performed outstanding service, and had a substantial impact within or external to CIRES? If so, this is an opportunity for you to nominate this individual, or team, for a CIRES award and to formally recognize their contributions.

Up to three outstanding CIRES members or teams will be awarded a cash prize up to $2,000 and honored at the annual CIRES Rendezvous.

Award Criteria: In the Service category, this may involve any work that facilitates, supports, enhances, or promotes work in the environmental sciences. The three criteria used to evaluate each service award nomination are the following:

  • Implementation of a service, idea, device, process, or system that aids in research, teaching, or outreach at CIRES.
  • Development or improvement of a service that increases the efficiency, quality, or visibility of scientific research or outreach.
  • Providing a service that promotes or inspires excellence and dedication to research performed at CIRES, or in the wider community.

Note: Projects in the Service category are successful because of the utility they have within the community. Please include any letters of support or supplemental material that may aid the committee in appreciating the value of the service provided.

Example 1 Example 2

Questions

If you have questions, please email the OPA Committee at ciresawards@lists.colorado.edu. This email address is for questions only; nominations cannot be accepted by email but must be submitted through the InsideCIRES portal.

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