Paul L. Busch Award Instructions and Guidelines

Award Description
Award Selection Committee and Process
Selection Criteria
Eligibility
Application Guidelines
Receipt Notification
Award Notification
Publication of Award
Rules and Regulations

Award Description

The Water Environment Research Foundation Endowment for Innovation in Applied Water Quality Research recognizes outstanding achievement and creative vision through the Paul L. Busch Award. Each year, the award seeks to distinguish individuals poised for greater recognition of their innovative, ongoing contributions to water quality advancements. Nominations must be received by the Water Environment Research Foundation by June 1.

Recipients of the Award are recognized and rewarded with a grant of $100,000 to continue their work, take risks, and explore new directions. Individuals from all segments of the water quality community are encouraged to apply.

Award Selection Committee and Process

The Endowment Awards Committee, appointed by the WERF Endowment Steering Committee, comprises esteemed scientists and engineers representing a broad cross section of the water quality profession. The committee reviews all nominations and applications and selects the annual award recipient.

Selection Criteria

The Endowment Selection Committee reviews nominations based upon the following criteria:

Innovation - The proposed research advances an original concept or identifies a technology that can be adapted and transferred from another field.
Integrity - The proposed research appears to be technically sound and scientifically defensible, with well-defined goals.
Potential for Application - The proposed research is likely to result in a practical application that will improve water quality or dramatically improve the efficiency and effectiveness of processes employed by water quality professionals.
Experience - The researcher(s) has demonstrated capability and is likely to meet the stated goals for the proposed research.
Foresight - Proposed research should represent a novel way of solving an existing challenge that may be unlikely to receive funding through traditional sources.

The Paul L. Busch Award aims to further the body of applied research and basic research that makes a clear connection to practical application and potential for improving the water environment.

Eligibility

Individuals or teams are eligible to receive the Paul L. Busch Award. Researchers in early- or mid-career who are seeking to break new ground in water quality science and engineering are encouraged to apply. Particular emphasis is placed on innovation. This award is not intended to recognize lifetime achievement. Applicants may self-nominate or be nominated by a third party; the means of application will make no difference for selection. It is required that the awardee performs work in conjunction with a U.S.-based firm, university, or organization.

Nominations are encouraged from consulting firms, wastewater utilities, industrial firms, wastewater equipment manufacturers, universities, and non-profit organizations performing research in the water quality field. Excluded from application and nomination are WERF employees, WERF Board members, WERF Research Council members, members of the Awards Committee and their immediate families.

Application Guidelines

Nominations can be submitted starting January 1 and must be received by the Water Environment Research Foundation no later than June 1. An unsuccessful candidate may resubmit that particular application one additional time.

Applications and materials will become the property of WERF and will not be returned.

WERF will accept application materials that are currently protected by patent or that are under consideration for patent protection. All applications and supplemental materials, whether patented or not, will be treated as confidential by WERF and the Endowment Award Committee. WERF and the Endowment Award Committee are not responsible or liable for the protection of materials submitted.

All applications must be submitted in English, single-sided, double-spaced, in 12-point font, with margins of at least .75 inch on 8-1/2 x 11-inch paper. (See application details below for page limits.) No applications will be accepted by fax or email. The pages of the application are not to be bound, and pages should be 3-hole punched. One original and nine copies of the complete application should be submitted to: Water Environment Research Foundation, ATTN: The Paul L. Busch Award, 635 Slaters Lane, Suite G-110, Alexandria, VA 22314. Note: WERF has moved. Proposals should be submitted to 635 Slaters Lane, Suite G-110, Alexandria, VA 22314-1177. Applications are limited to 10 pages for individual proposers but, in the case of team proposals only, may contain two (2) additional biographical pages for each team member. Letters of endorsement are not counted in the application page limit. No budget information is requested or desired. No supplemental information will be considered.

Applications must contain the following elements:

Title Page (1 page) with the following information: (1) Project Title, (2) Name & Title of Applicant/Nominee, (3) Professional or Home Address, (4) Contact Information (telephone, email, and/or fax).
Executive Summary of no more than (2) two pages written in a manner ensuring a lay-person’s reasonable understanding of the underlying research, the new thinking or innovation being proposed, the potential for practical application, and the manner in which the Award would make a difference to the research and how it might be leveraged.
The Proposal/Application of no more than five (5) pages.
Biographical Information on each Proposer/Applicant of not more than two (2) pages per proposer (or two pages per team member). It is suggested that citing of publications be limited to those of immediate relevance with the remainder quantified.
Two (2) letters of endorsement (not included in page count limit): (1) One letter addressing the qualifications of the proposer/applicant, and (2) One letter addressing the merits of the proposed research and its potential benefits to the water quality profession and the water environment.

Receipt Notification

WERF staff will send letters to all applicants/nominees verifying receipt of applications submitted for the Paul L. Busch Award competition. No other correspondence will be sent.

Award Notification

WERF staff will notify the Paul L. Busch Award recipient(s) by phone or by e-mail. Recipient(s) are required to attend the annual WERF luncheon at WEFTEC (held each year in October) to receive the award. WERF staff will make travel arrangements and reimburse the winner for reasonable travel and accommodation expenses.

Publication of Award

WERF reserves the right to publicize the award recipient's name, photograph, and research content by disseminating information through newsletters, publications, and website. The award recipient(s) will be asked to give a lecture or presentation on their body of research and its practical application for improving water quality.

Rules and Regulations

1. Award funds must be spent to continue the body of research for which they were awarded and/or its practical application.

2. Funds are intended to further the body of research for which they were awarded and are not intended for overhead costs or other costs not directly related to the research.

3. Award winner must submit to WERF a white paper or other suitable documentation summarizing the research achievements for which the funds were awarded that can be published and distributed by WERF and to which WERF owns suitable copyright.

4. The monetary value of the Paul L. Busch Award may be subject to taxation under rules and regulations of the United States Code of the Internal Revenue Service. The award recipient is responsible for any/all taxes related to the award.

5. Nominations can be submitted starting January 1 and must be received no later than June 1 to be considered.

6. Applications received after June 1 will not be considered.

7. An unsuccessful candidate may resubmit their application one additional time.

8. Applications and materials will become the property of WERF and will not be returned.

9. WERF will accept application materials that are currently protected by patent or that are under consideration for patent protection. All applications and supplemental materials, whether patented or not, will be treated as confidential by WERF and the Endowment Awards Committee. WERF and the Endowment Awards Committee are not responsible or liable for the protection of materials submitted.

10. The Paul L. Busch Award is not recognition for lifetime achievement. Key criteria for this award include innovation and the bridge between research and its practical application.

11. The body of research for which a nomination is submitted should not substantially duplicate existing or ongoing research.