Awards

The Association for the Study of Food and Society proudly confers five awards for recognition of outstanding scholarship in the field of food within the social sciences, humanities and related disciplines. Submissions in the sciences, arts and other disciplines that deal with food are welcome if they discuss food as it relates to culture and society.

For all prizes

  • Membership in the ASFS is not required and there is no fee for nominating a book, syllabus or paper
  • Applicants may self-nominate
  • Three anonymous judges representing different disciplines will assess the entrants
  • The awards administrators have no input on the final decision
  • If outstanding scholarship is not identified, an individual award may not be given in a particular year
  • Deadlines: February 1 (late submissions cannot be considered)

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The ASFS Book Award recognizes an outstanding book about food published within the last two years. The book should employ exemplary research methods, offer novel theoretical insights and constitute a significant contribution to the study of food from a scholarly perspective. Books which suggest new questions and new avenues of food research for future scholars are encouraged to apply. Writing style, organizational rigor and a strong thesis will also be criteria for this award. A cash stipend of $500 accompanies the award. ASFS Book Award Submissions Guidelines

2012 ASFS Book Award Winners:
Julie Guthman, UC Santa Cruz, for a book titled Weighing In: Obesity, Food Justice, and the Limits of Capitalism.

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The Belasco Prize for Scholarly Excellence recognizes a peer-reviewed article published in the last two years, which exhibits superior research, a unique perspective and methodological approach as well as novel insights for the study of food. Clear and effective writing as well as a persuasive thesis are also criteria for this award. A $300 cash stipend accompanies the award. Belasco Prize for Scholarly Excellence Submissions Guidelines

2012 Belasco Prize for Scholarly Excellence Award Winner:
Camille Bégin, University of Toronto, for an article titled “Partaking of choice poultry cooked a la
southern style: Taste and Race in the New Deal Sensory Economy” Radical History Review.

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The ASFS Award for Food Studies Pedagogy is given to the teacher of food studies in any discipline who presents a course that uses innovative and successful pedagogical techniques to reach students. These may include classroom exercises and assignments as well as outside projects, trips, and service activities. The course may be taught at the graduate or undergraduate level, for degree credit. Any ancillary evidence of exemplary teaching methods will also be accepted. A cash stipend of $200 accompanies this award. ASFS Award for Food Studies Pedagogy Submissions Guidelines

2012 ASFS Award for Food Studies Pedagogy Winners:
Rachel Black of Boston University for her course titled “Urban Agriculture.”

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Alex McIntosh Graduate Prize recognizes a student’s contributions to the fields of food studies. We welcome submissions on a wide range of issues relating to food, society and culture, and from the diverse disciplinary and transdisciplinary fields that ASFS encompasses. The winner will receive $500, ASFS membership for one year, and entrance to that year’s annual conference and banquet. Student Awards Submission Page

2012 Alex McIntosh Graduate Prize Winner:
Adrienne Johnson, Stanford University for a paper titled “The Pastoral Body: A Study of Food and Landscape in American Weight Loss Diets”

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Bill Whit Undergraduate Prize recognizes a student’s contributions to the field of food studies. We welcome submissions on a wide range of issues relating to food, society and culture, and from the diverse disciplinary and transdisciplinary fields that ASFS encompasses. The winner will receive $500, ASFS membership for one year, and entrance to that year’s annual conference and banquet. Bill Whit Student Awards Submission Page

2012 Bill Whit Undergraduate Prize:
Ellen O’Brien, James Madison University for a paper titled ”Cooperative Consumption: “Good Fooding” in a Food Conscious Community”

 

To see the past winners from all prize categories, click here.