INSNA announced the newly-created Visible Path Graduate Student Award at the Sunbelt XXV International Social Network Conference in Redondo Beach, California in February, 2005. INSNA gives the annual award, which carries a $5,000 prize plus paid expenses to the Sunbelt conference, to a graduate student in recognition of research on how social networks are used to improve individual and inter-organizational performance.

The Visible Path Graduate Student Award recognizes a graduate student's research on how social networks improve professional performance. The award is given annually to a graduate student in recognition of research at the interface between inter-organizational science and social network analysis. The award recognizes research on organizational science, in which social networks are used to improve individual and inter-organizational performance. For example, research focusing on how people in organizations, especially corporations, use their own social networks to accelerate strategic processes with people outside their organization would be eligible.

"Social network analysis touches many disciplines -- anthropology, sociology, psychology, political science, economics and communications science for starters - yet there are few awards that are specifically designed to support basic social network research," said Bill Richards, INSNA president and professor of communications at Simon Fraser University. "This award seeks to encourage research for benefit of everyone who is interested in the juncture of social network analysis and organizational performance."

The award taps into broadening awareness of social network analysis sparked by articles, popular business books and new companies selling web services and software that capitalize on social networks.

"The timing is right for graduate students looking to uncover social network insights that can advance an increasingly popular discipline with growing opportunities for application" said Stanley Wasserman, professor of sociology, psychology, and statistics at Indiana University and chief scientist for Visible Path Corp. in New York."

To apply for this year's award, students should submit a paper (written in English) to the committee before 1 September 2007. The paper must be written between September 1, 2006 and August 31, 2007. Eligible students must be sole (or first) author on the submitted paper. Letters of support should accompany the submission. Submitted papers will be evaluated by a committee of four judges; their decision will be final. Judging will be on the basis of the level of originality in the ideas and techniques, the possible applications and their treatment, and potential impact. The awardee will give a formal presentation at Sunbelt 2008 in St Pete's, Florida. The committee may arrive at the conclusion that none of the submitted papers merits the award.

The award will made for the third time in 2008. Funds for the award have been provided by Visible Path Corporation, New York (http://www.visiblepath.com).


Details for the 2008 Visible Path Graduate Student award will be announced shortly.