Alwyn Gentry Award for Best Student Paper

Alwyn Gentry's legacy to tropical biology was not limited to the phenomenal contributions he made to the study of diversity and conservation of tropical plants. He was a caring and supportive mentor to students from all over the Americas. In remembrance and recognition of the contributions of a singular scientist, colleague, mentor, and friend, the Association for Tropical Biology presents the Alwyn Gentry Award for the Best Student Paper each year at its Annual Meeting.

Two awards are given each year, one for the best student oral presentation, and one for the best student poster.

The award recipients will each receive a $100 prize, plus a free one-year subscription to Biotropica and $100 in books from the University of Chicago Press. In addition, each of the winners will have their photograph and abstract published in Biotropica.

Eligibility:

• Individuals who have been students within the previous 12 months are eligible, including those who have completed the Ph.D. within that period.
• The number of years of eligibility is not limited.
• The work must have been done by the student as the senior author on the paper.

Two or more students may present a joint paper and would then split the award.

Award Criteria:

• originality of study
• contribution of the study to science
• breadth of the study
• quality of the research design and execution of the data analysis
• quality of the presentation, including audio-visual materials.

The Award Committee reserves the right to make no award if it deems that no deserving paper has been presented or if fewer than five eligible papers are presented.

Students who wish to be considered for the Gentry Award must indicate so in their registration form or during abstract submission.

For best paper on conservation

The Luis F.Bacardi Advances in Tropical Conservation Award has been provided to the ATBC by an endowment from the Lubee Bat Conservancy. The Bacardi Award is designed to foster high-quality conservation science in the tropics. The Award is awarded each year for the best oral presentation on a conservation-related theme at the ATBC Annual Meeting. Competition is open to recent PhDs, i.e., individuals who completed their PhD no more than five years previously (between May 2007 and May 2011).

In addition to a cash amount of $300 honorarium, the winner of the award will have his/her abstract and photo published in Biotropica.

When you register online, please indicate whether you would like your abstract to be considered in this year's competition.

NOTE: The Award Committee reserves the right to not grant an award if it deems that no deserving paper has been presented or if fewer than five eligible papers are presented