GUIDELINES
How do I become eligible for the award?If you publish in one of BioMed Central’s 199 journals before the end of 2009 (December 31st) this will make you eligible for nominations from other readers, reviewers or editors. For more information on how to submit a manuscript, visit instructions for authors.
How soon do I need to submit an article in order for it to be considered for the 2009 award? Time from submission to publication varies, but typically takes 2 to 4 months. The sooner you submit a manuscript, the more chance you have of it being published in time to qualify for the award. We would recommend you submit no later than early September to be eligible.
How do I nominate an article for an award?
Complete the nomination form provided on our website.
Nominations close December 31st 2009.
Can I nominate my own article?
No, but you are free to ask a colleague who is not a co-author on your article to nominate it.
Who will receive the award? The award will go to the first author of the article concerned, or in the event of joint first authors who contributed equally, will be split between the two. In the case of collectively authored papers, the award will be made to the organization concerned.
Are there any restrictions on the use of the award? The winner is free to use the award as they see fit — there are no strings attached (although use of the award for scientific purposes is encouraged).
How will the winners of the awards be chosen? The winners will be chosen by a panel from BioMed Central's editorial team along with invited external experts.
When will the winners of the awards be announced? The winners will be announced at an awards ceremony in June 2010.