The Global Association of Applied Behavioural Scientists

GAABS Awards

The GAABS Awards Programme recognises examples of high-quality applied behavioural science and highlights the wealth of skills and creativity that exist within our membership community.

  • Member Awards
    These awards are conferred during the first half of each year.
    Each year, member awards are judged by a different expert from the Behavioural Science arena.

  • Behavioural Science Book Award and Behavioural Science Podcast Award
    These awards are conferred during the second half of each year, typically during late November or early December.
    Books and Podcasts are submitted for consideration by member nomination.
    Awards are conferred based on a public vote based on outcome of the member nomination and Board review process.

Find out more about past winners and highly commended entries.

Member Award Categories

Overall Winner

The prize will be awarded to the entry that the judges feel exemplifies the best use of applied behavioural science. Entries should address a specific behavioural issue, demonstrate an understanding of the wider context, identify how intervention(s) were conceived and tested.

Entries that offer a broad real-world application, align with the GAABS’ ethical framework and result in verifiable results and impact will likely fare well in this category.

This award is open to individual and organisational members.

Best Null Result

Not an oxymoron!
This award recognises the value of knowing what doesn’t work as much as what does. The prize will be awarded to the entry that represents an excellent example of applied behavioural science (using the same criteria for the overall winner category) where a useful learning emerges despite demonstrating a zero effect. Entries that offer fellow GAABS members and practitioners a valuable means of learning and that serve to help peers to potentially avoid ineffective and inefficient behaviourally informed approaches are encouraged to enter this category.

Student Award

The student prize will be awarded to the student entry that the judges feel exemplifies the best use of applied behavioural science.  Entries should address a specific behavioural issue, demonstrate an understanding of the wider context, identify how intervention(s) were conceived and tested.

The judges are seeking evidence of broad real-world application, and entries that align with GAABS’ ethical framework. For the student awards, the judges also allow entries which are more researched focus, or set-out an intervention design.  Allowances are made for the likelihood that data collection opportunities could be limited for student projects, and students may submit assignments or coursework (subject to the word limit).

The award is open to student members.

Individual Member Award

Awarded to the GAABS member who, in the opinion of the Chair and Executive Team, has contributed most value to GAABS and the wider Behavioural Science community. The award, therefore, will not be an applied project but rather a reflection of impact and meaningful contribution of a Behavioural Science individual. This could be via the encouragement and collaboration across the GAABS of network or something else.

This award is open to individual members.

2025 Member Awards: Dates

  • 10 February

    Entries Open

  • 4 April

    Entries Close

  • 29 April

    Shortlist Announced

  • 16 May

    Winners Notified

  • 3 June

    Winners Announced

Submit Your Entry Below

Entry Criteria and Rules

Who can enter?

  • Current GAABS members (either individual or organisational) in good standing (for the duration of the Awards judging and release period).

  • Entrants from collaborations / partnerships between GAABS members are encouraged.
    In the case of collaborations at least 50% of the entrants must fulfil GAABS criteria for membership.

  • Entrants that are collaborations between GAABS members and a commercial, public sector or not-for-profit organisation are also welcomed, as is work conducted by a GAABS member for a client.

    • In the case of collaborations at least 50% of the entrants must be GAABS members.

    • In the case of work carried out on behalf of a client, it is important that all entries are accompanied with verifiable permission from the organisation concerned that they are happy for the work to be entered.

  • GAABS Executive Board Members and Advisory Board Members are not eligible to enter.

How many entries?

  • GAABS members are permitted to submit a maximum of TWO entries.

  • Only one entry will be accepted for each project or initiative. If you wish to enter a project that includes a multiplicity of separate interventions to address different outcomes within the same project these should be submitted individually.

  • Entries that include several interventions to address a single outcome and that are tested against each other at the same time will be regarded as a single entry.

How recent should the work be?

  • Entries will be accepted for applied work carried out in the previous two years in recognition that some applied field work and experiments can often take >12 months to complete.

What format must entries be in?

  • Entries must take the form of either (a) a maximum 3000 word paper, (b) a case study, or (c) a presentation.

  • A 250-300 word executive summary of the work (including the key (or null) results) should accompany each entry.

  • Submissions should be sent in PDF format (see How to Enter below for further details). Paper copies will not be accepted.

Permission

  • Where entries feature material owned by an end client or external supplier or any other copyright holder, permission must also be submitted with the entry.

  • Should your entry contain sensitive or private information this should clearly be stated on your entry in RED BOLD TEXT. Please highlight information that is not in the public domain to ensure that sensitive information is not published.

  • By entering the GAABS Awards, entrants assign GAABS the right to feature entries and winners on the GAABS website, social media channels and for general promotional purposes.

How to Enter

  • Use the web form to submit your entry/entries.

  • If submitting more than one entry, please submit a separate form for each entry. Maximum two entries per member.

  • Entries must take the form of (a) a maximum 3000-word paper, (b) a case study, or (c) a presentation in PDF format.

  • Any images or supporting graphs and visuals used to support / illustrate the entry can be included in an appendix or attached as separate files. A maximum of 3 files in total per entry.

  • GAABS is not liable for issues related to entry requirements. An email confirming receipt of each entry will be sent to all entrants.

  • Please email members@gaabs.org with questions or for assistance.

Entry Instructions

Entry Form