These awards are being initiated on the 15^th anniversary of the IEEE IRI conference. The overarching purpose served by these awards is to identify and stimulate the type of work that will advance the field of information reuse and integration and thus contribute to the many facets of our society as a whole. Where not specified, the awards are to be adjudicated by the President and Vice President of SIRI and where at least one of them is a recipient by the standing SIRI Committee – including the President/Vice President, where applicable.

Pioneer Award

This award is to recognize the founder of new knowledge in a field, which breaks new ground, has revolutionary impact, and stimulates new ways of thinking leading to practical results. The recipient of this award is to be nominated (i.e., not applied for) and his/her work must have global impact. This award is not based on quantitative metrics, but strictly qualitative ones.

Technical Achievement Award

This award recognizes research contributions, over a long period, having high impact. Impact is assessed by the quality and quantity of research contributions, but the emphasis is on the quality. Applicants may be self-nominated and must include a brief resume and a cover paragraph. The cover paragraph is most important and must explain in no more than one page (12 point Times New Roman with 1” margins single-spaced), the new or novel technology developed/invented/disseminated by the applicant.

Research Leadership Award

This award is similar to the technical achievement award, but the emphasis is on how the applicant guided others (including organizations) in their R&D – not on oneself. Thus, for example, if one guides a student and this student would qualify as a candidate for the technical achievement award under the mentor’s leadership, then it follows that the mentor is a candidate for the research leadership award. All requirements are otherwise the same as for Technical Achievement Award.

SIRI Outstanding Service Award

This award is given for consistent outstanding service to the IEEE IRI conference and Society for Information Reuse and Integration (SIRI) for a period of at least five years. The SIRI Committee may agree on bestowing this award on any qualified deserving individual. No formal application is required.

Novelty Award

This award is given for any paper, presentation, or keynote address that offers a distinct approach to solving a standing problem, or showing why a standing problem is unsolvable. It need not have been fully tested, but appears to be worthy of test. In some cases, a single technical statement may qualify a candidate. In others, a proof or a program may do so. Anyone may qualify for this award, but it is expected to generate more junior than senior awardees; although again, this is not a requirement. No formal application is required.