The Social Statistics, Government Statistics, and Survey Research Methods Sections are pleased to announce a competition for student and postgraduate papers to be presented at the Joint Statistical Meetings (JSM) in Seattle, Washington on August 6-10, 2006. At least five awards will be granted. Winning papers are presented by the authors at a session of the meeting and are recognized at the Sections' business meetings. A subsidy of up to $800 is provided to each winner in order to cover JSM 2006 expenses.

To be eligible to participate in the competition you must be a current undergraduate or graduate student at any level or be a 2005 graduate who presents research conducted as a student.

Papers entered in the Student Competition must involve either a new statistical methodology or a creative application of statistical analysis to a problem, policy question, or other issue in the subject area of one of the sponsoring sections. Research for the submitted papers does not have to be complete, but competitors must be able to submit an abstract prospectus describing the planned research, including the nature of the intended innovations.

Applications should include

1. a cover letter including name, current affiliation and status, and contact information (address, telephone, e-mail) of the applicant,
2. an abstract of up to 300 words,
3. a draft paper if available, or otherwise a 3-page research prospectus, and
4. a letter from the adviser certifying student status (or completion of degree within the past year) and describing plans for the completion of the research.

Faculty are urged to encourage students to apply for these awards.

A student who receives an award from more than one section must immediately inform both sections, and will be asked to decline one of the awards.