SFRA Student Paper Award Now Supports Publication

The Science Fiction Research Association executive committee has decided to add a significant bonus to the recently reconfigured Student Paper Award. Before, the winner only received a prize of $100 and a one-year membership in the SFRA. Now, the Student Paper Award winner will receive the aforesaid prizes along with a significant bonus: a letter recommending the revised paper for publication. SFRA president Lisa Yaszek announced the executive committee's addition to the Student Paper Award as, “once the winner of the Student Paper Award decides to pursue publication and has revised his or her paper appropriately, the SFRA president will write a reference letter testifying to the quality of the original presentation and the revised essay for publication.” This letter will accompany the revised paper for publication wherever the winner decides to submit his or her essay for publication. Furthermore, this change not only assists the winner with getting an edge on publication, but it also gives the winner a great deal of latitude in submitting his or her work to the journal most appropriate for the revised winning paper. Thus, the SFRA Student Paper Award now financially supports the undergraduate or graduate student who presents the best essay at our annual conference, and promotes the winner's professionalization by recommending the winner's revised work for publication.