ACSAD Award for Scientific Agricultural Research in Arid Areas in the Field of Modern Scientific Methods for Developing Agricultural Extension in Arab Countries- 5th Session 2020

It is a recognition award that is offered periodically every two years for the distinguished applied researches, projects and efforts exerted in the fields of agricultural sector development and natural resource conservation in the Arab arid and semi-arid areas, for the purpose of achieving a better economic and social environment for the life of the Arab citizen. It is awarded within the framework of ACSAD supporting and sponsoring efforts and initiatives to reach a sustainable Arab agricultural development.

Objectives:

Contribute to the transfer of the modern scientific and technical knowledge to the Arab agricultural sector.
Encourage applied scientific researches in the field of sustainable agricultural management to increase land productive capacity, control land degradation, develop agriculture, conserve environmental situation and biodiversity in Arab arid areas, develop local rural communities and encourage their participation in the Arab agricultural development process.
Appreciate the applied scientific efforts exerted in finding out practical solutions for facing the obstacles of Arab agriculture, and benefit from the scientific and technical developments in agricultural resource use rationalization and conservation in the arid areas.
Recognize the contributions of individuals, institutions and commissions in developing scientific techniques and researches that increase the production and productivity of arid areas.
Support and encourage the developed innovations and techniques that could develop the agricultural environment of arid areas.

Criteria

Award fields and components:

1-The specialization of the individuals and the activities of the scientific commissions and institutions nominated for the award, should comply with the award objectives in supporting scientific research to develop Arab agriculture in arid areas.

2-The nominated work should present new ideas and mechanisms, and should have a direct impact in terms of achieving encouraging practical results.

3-The nominated works should be innovative and creative, or should translate world experiences in a successful applied way that complies with Arab conditions.

4-The nominated works should have a strategic dimension and should present an important applied addition that could serve the Arab agriculture development.

5-The nominated works should contribute to finding out solutions or overcoming obstacles that hinder the development and progress of Arab agricultural sector in arid and semi-arid areas.

6-The nominated works should meet the urgent current agricultural requirements of the Arab agricultural sector.

7-The nominated researches should meet the scientific research requirements.

8-The nominated works should contribute to the creation of a developed agricultural environment that could transform the arid areas from marginal areas to productive ones.

1-Agricultural extension and sustainable rural development.

2-Agricultural extension programs planning and evaluation.

3-Natural resource use rationalization and sustainability conservation.

4-Modern techniques adoption and agricultural technology transfer.

5-Agricultural media and its role in disseminating agricultural innovations.

6-Information technology use in agricultural extension.

7-Rural women and youth programs.

8-Extension systems reform to contain economic changes and comply with globalization.

9-Extension and research institutions integration.

Award application conditions:

Any individual (or group of individuals) can apply for the award if he meets every criterion of the above mentioned criteria of ACSAD award.
The applicant should be committed to the subject of the award.
Anyone, who carried out a distinguished pilot scientific achievement in the award subject or sub-subjects, can apply for the award.
The works should be submitted in Arabic language.
The works should be lately developed; as the preparation period should not exceed 3 years before the application date.
The work should have previously won any award.
The work should not be a part of a thesis of a PhD, master or graduation project, and should not be used for assignment or promotion in a teaching board membership.
No more than one work for one party is accepted for application.
ACSAD award only goes to alive individuals.
The award committee members or their first-class relatives are not allowed to apply for the award.
ACSAD researchers and experts are not allowed to apply for the award.
The applicants should be Arabs, and the main researcher of the participatory works should be an Arab.
The applied work should be distinguished and should be applicable on the ground with promising good results.
Any study, research or project that ACSAD supervises, participates in or contributes to financially, can not apply for the award.
The applicant should submit a certified copy of the patent from the concerned authority of the applicant’s country, if the nominated work includes an innovation (modern technique, a new plant variety, etc…….).
The applicant should take into consideration the intellectual property rights of the used references

General conditions:

Nomination form. Click to download the nomination form
Abstract on the nominated work and its importance in terms of application aspect; it should not exceed 3 pages (A4, letter size 14, Times New Roman text, side margins 2.3cm, up and down margins 3.17).
C.V for individuals or a summery on the activities of the scientific research parties in the field of agricultural development in arid areas.
Three hard copies and one soft copy of the nominated work that do not contain the researcher’s name or any clue or sign of him, and another one hard copy (and soft copy) that holds the name of the researcher.
The work should have the recommendation of three distinguished experts to introduce the nominee’s work.
A passport photocopy and certified copies of the academic degrees.

Award schedule:

Submission of applications: from 1/1/2019 to 31/12/2019.
Application sorting: from 1/1/2020 to 31/1/2020 (one month).
Application evaluation: from 1/2/2020 to 30/4/2020 (three months).
Selection results evaluation and winners announcement: from 1/5/ to 31/5/2020 (one month).

Award board and jury:

The award has a scientific board consisting of:

President of the scientific board………	President of ACSAD General Assembly
Vice-president of the scientific board…….	Director General of ACSAD
Director of the concerned department in ACSAD……	Member
Two deans of Arab faculties of agriculture……	Members
Two heads of scientific research centers in Arab Countries…..	Members

The scientific board is responsible for nominating three members for the jury from the Arab distinguished researchers and experts specialized in the award subject.

Recognition awards:

First winner: The recognition award includes the awarding justifications, the award trophy and an amount of 12000 USD.
Second winner: The recognition award includes the awarding justifications, the award trophy and an amount of 8000 USD.
Third winner: The recognition award includes the awarding justifications, the award trophy and an amount of 6000 USD.

Award ceremony:

An award ceremony will take place during the period of ACSAD General Assembly meetings in 2020.
The winners will be invited to the award ceremony, and ACSAD will bear the travel and accommodation costs.
Each winner will be asked to give a presentation on the subject of his winning work during the Agricultural Research Officials Conference or any appropriate scientific meeting held by ACSAD, and ACSAD will bear their travel and accommodation costs.

Click to download the nomination form