Joan Cahalin Robinson Prize Grant

The Joan Cahalin Robinson Prize, established in 1980 by Dr. Eric Robinson, is awarded annually for the best paper presented by a first-time presenter at the SHOT annual meeting. The prize encourages professional growth, emphasizing both historical research quality and presentation effectiveness. Candidates must be graduate students or recent Ph.D. recipients and submit their papers in advance. The award includes a monetary prize and a certificate, fostering excellence in the field of history and technology.

NOTE:
Effective since 2016, the Robinson Prize Committee will cap the total number of candidates for the prize at 30, administered on a first-come, first-served basis. Others will be added to a waiting list. The SHOT Secretary will keep a list of candidates, if any of the first 30 papers are not accepted for the conference, those on the waiting list will be bumped up accordingly.Candidates should mention their wish to be considered for the Robinson Prize in their paper proposal, and in the online submission form for session or conference proposals. In case the paper is part of a full or unconventional session proposal the organizer of the session should indicate this in the proposal and the online submission form.Robinson candidates should submit their original, primary source-based research paper to the Chair of their panel, and to the SHOT Secretary no less than one month ahead of the annual meeting. Those who do not submit their papers by this deadline will not be considered for the Robinson Prize.
Eric Robinson in memory of his wife, the Joan Cahalin Robinson Prize is awarded annually for the best-presented paper by an individual delivering their first paper at the SHOT annual meeting. The prize serves to foster professionalization. Candidates for the award are judged on the quality of the historical research and scholarship of the paper, but the awards committee pays particular attention to the effectiveness of the presentation. The prize consists of a monetary award and a certificate.

Eligibility

All candidates for the Robinson Prize must be first-time presenters at the Society’s Annual Meeting.
Candidates must be graduate students or recipients of their Ph.D. within the past two years.
Welcome to apply are post-docs, visiting assistant professors, independent scholars, and museum and other history professionals.

Ineligibility

Tenure-track and tenured faculty are not eligible for the prize.