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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Food heritage and food ethnobiology
We are pleased to announce a call for papers for a new article Collection in JEET, focusing on the multifaceted topic of "Food heritage and food ethnobiology". This Collection aims to explore the rich and diverse intersections of food, culture, and biology, and we invite contributions that delve into the following thematic areas:
- Folk-Food Medicines: Investigations into traditional food-based remedies and their roles in cultural practices, health, and community well-being. We welcome studies that document, analyze, and interpret the use of food as medicine across different cultures and historical periods.
- Food Heritagisation Process: Analyses of how certain foods and culinary practices become recognized and preserved as cultural heritage. Papers may explore the mechanisms, policies, and social dynamics involved in the heritagisation process, including the roles of institutions, communities, and individuals.
- Educational Ethnobiology/Ethnoecology: Research on the educational aspects of ethnobiology and ethnoecology, particularly how knowledge about food and ecological relationships is transmitted across generations. Contributions may address formal and informal educational practices, curriculum development, and the impact of education on food heritage preservation.
We encourage submissions from a wide range of disciplines, including but not limited to anthropology, ecology, biology, history, and education. Interdisciplinary approaches that bridge these fields are particularly welcome.
All submissions in this collection undergo the journal’s standard peer review process. Similarly, all manuscripts authored by a Guest Editor(s) will be handled by the Editor-in-Chief. As an open access publication, this journal levies an article processing fee (details here). We recognize that many key stakeholders may not have access to such resources and are committed to supporting participation in this issue wherever resources are a barrier. For more information about what support may be available, please visit OA funding and support, or email OAfundingpolicy@springernature.com or the Editor-in-Chief.
Publishing Model: Open Access
Deadline: Jan 14, 2026
Local nature knowledge: recent ethnobiological insight
In recent years, ethnobiology has become the most prominent field of study that looks at the complex, dynamic, and inextricable interconnections between nature and nature knowledge and practices held by local communities.
This Collection summarizes recent research at the 2024 International Congress of Ethnobiology in May 2024 in Marrakech. The main issues addressed by the contributions touch upon cultural landscapes, economic botany, community-based-centered approaches and understanding of nature, and environmental education and anthropology.
All submissions in this Collection undergo the journal’s standard peer review process. Similarly, all manuscripts authored by a Guest Editor(s) will be handled by the Editor-in-Chief. As an open access publication, this journal levies an article processing fee (details here). We recognize that many key stakeholders may not have access to such resources and are committed to supporting participation in this issue wherever resources are a barrier. For more information about what support may be available, please visit OA funding and support, or email OAfundingpolicy@springernature.com or the Editor-in-Chief.
Publishing Model: Open Access
Deadline: Oct 30, 2025
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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.