The selection process

Nominations

1. Once the nomination period has begun, a nomination may be submitted using this form. There is no need to have a Bioinformatics.org account, and there is no limit to the number of people who can be nominated.
2. The following criteria will then be used to determine if a nomination counts:
• The nominator cannot nominate the same person twice.
• The person being nominated cannot also be the nominator (no self-nominations).
• The person being nominated cannot be a past laureate.
• There must be evidence that the person being nominated has done something to promote open access (to data, source code, or journal articles) in the life sciences.
3. At some point before voting begins, a preliminary list of those who have received nominations will be sent to Bioinformatics.org account holders who have subscribed to receive notices from us.
4. After the nomination period has ended, a person must have at least two (2) nominations to be considered a "nominee" (in other words, each nomination will need to be seconded).

Bioinformatics.org will not discriminate based on race, color, national origin, religion, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or anything other than the preceding criteria. We also actively encourage diversity in nominations.

Voting

1. The list of nominees will then be placed on a ballot and sent to the Bioinformatics.org account holders who have subscribed to receive messages from us. A voter must select one nominee from the list. The deadline for all votes to be collected will be specified on the ballot.
2. The nominee with the most votes will receive the award. There will not be a run-off vote.

Ceremony

1. An announcement about the identity of the laureate will be made sometime prior to the ceremony.
2. The ceremony will include the presentation of the award by a representative from Bioinformatics.org, followed by a short talk by the laureate.
3. If the laureate cannot attend the ceremony, they may select someone to receive the award and give a talk on their behalf.

[Return to the Benjamin Franklin Award homepage]