Calling for nominations for the new JEET Emerging Scientist Award in Ethnobiology
Published in Social Sciences, Ecology & Evolution, and Microbiology
As part of the 20th anniversary celebrations for the Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine (JEET), the journal Editor-in-Chief, BMC, and the Board Members have decided it was time to launch a new initiative aimed to reward and foster excellence in the field. Starting from 2025, the JEET Emerging Scientist Award in Ethnobiology will be awarded annually to three colleagues who have made outstanding contributions to the field of Ethnobiology and Ethnosciences and are in the early stages of their career.
Ethnobiological sciences explore the inextricable links between human societies and nature, food, and health. The relationship between humans and nature is a topic that is as ancient as human civilisation itself, and it has come back to the attention of the global scientific community as ethnobiology over the past decades. Ethnobiology brings together so many crucial topics nowadays, including sustainability, the ecological transition, biodiversity and conservation, indigenous knowledge, public health and environmental protection. Advances have been made in all the relevant fields in this subject, such as ethnobotany, ethnomycology, ethnozoology, ethnoecology (including ethnopedology), ethnogastronomy, ethnomedicine, ethnoveterinary, as well as all related areas in environmental, nutritional, and medical anthropology.
The JEET Emerging Scientist Award in Ethnobiology is a unique prize and it aims to reward and celebrate particularly scholars who have worked together with local communities and Indigenous Peoples to foster their wellbeing, create inclusion, and mitigate marginalization and stigmatization.
Nominations are open from 1 May to 31 May 2025. Prize criteria, including the process for nomination, eligibility and selection, and the Prize Committee, can be found on the prize page.
The winners will receive:
- A cash prize of 1,000 EUR for the most outstanding
- 2 cash prizes of 500 EUR for 2 runner-ups
The cash prize is provided by Springer Nature.
The Award recognizes exceptional scientific efforts in documenting, culturally analysing, and interpreting local communities' nature knowledge and folk medical practices heritage, especially those of neglected groups. By awarding and encouraging high quality research in this field, the Prize Committee, the JEET and BMC hope that more can be done to revitalize local ecological and medical knowledge systems and turn it into concrete future projects.
I am an Executive Publisher for the BMC Academic Journals at Springer Nature. A linguist by background, I am an expert in academic publishing and an Open Access advocate. I am a fan of knowledge making us more open and more human.
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Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine
This journal publishes original research focusing on cultural perceptions of nature and of human and animal health. It invites research articles, reviews and commentaries concerning the investigations of the inextricable links between human societies and nature, food, and health.
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To the JEET Award Selection Committee,
I am honored to nominate Ashebir Awoke, a dedicated and innovative early-career researcher, for the JEET Emerging Scientist Award in Ethnobiology. Ashebir Awoke has demonstrated exceptional promise through pioneering research that bridges traditional ecological knowledge and scientific inquiry, particularly in the areas of ethnobotany or indigenous plant use. Their work not only advances academic understanding but also uplifts indigenous voices and promotes conservation practices deeply rooted in local cultures. With a strong publication record, active fieldwork, and community-based collaboration, he exemplify the values that this award seeks to honor.
Ashebir Awoke completed his terminal degree in 4 year and has since been involved in a range of interdisciplinary projects, contributing significantly to both scientific literature and grassroots development. He have been invited to present research at national and international forums and have mentored students in both formal academic settings and field-based community workshops. I am confident that Ashebir Awoke contributions will continue to shape the future of ethnobiology, and I strongly recommend him for this prestigious recognition. Please find the required nomination materials attached for your consideration.