The Microscopy Society of America (MSA) and the Microanalysis Society (MAS) annually sponsor awards for outstanding papers contributed to the Microscopy & Microanalysis (M&M) meeting, competitively judged based upon the quality of the submitted paper. These awards are provided to students, postdoctoral researchers, and professional technical staff members to help defray travel, lodging and other costs of attending the meeting. All awardees must fit the award criteria, as described below, at the time of the M&M meeting.

How to Apply For an M&M Meeting Award:

1. As part of the on-line paper submission process, an applicant must flag his or her paper for award consideration. Only one paper may be designated per applicant.
2. The applicant must appear as first author of the paper submitted for award.
3. The applicant must provide the name, title, institution, and e-mail address of his or her supervisor, who will be contacted to provide a supporting letter and confirmation of applicability for the indicated award category (e.g. student, post-doc, or technical staff).

STUDENTS:
All full-time students enrolled at accredited academic institutions are eligible. High school, undergraduate, and graduate students are encouraged to apply. Applicants are not required to be members of the sponsoring society.

POSTDOCTORAL RESEARCHERS:
All full-time postdoctoral researchers are eligible. Applicants are not required to be members of the sponsoring society.

PROFESSIONAL TECHNICAL STAFF MEMBERS:

• Full-time technologists are eligible. In addition, the applicant must be a member of the sponsoring society, current in his or her dues for the year of the meeting.
• Award applicants will automatically be considered for memorial scholarships conferred by MSA based on the generous support of society sponsors.
• Applicants who have already been conferred an M&M Meeting Award will not be considered for a second award in the same category.

AMOUNT OF AWARD:
M&M Meeting Awards and memorial awards consist of full meeting registration and up to $1,000 for travel-related expenses. Original receipts must be provided to receive travel reimbursement. All award winners also receive an invitation to the Presidents' Reception, held on the Tuesday evening of the meeting.

NOTIFICATION OF AWARD:

• All award applicants will be notified of their award status approximately eight weeks following the Call for Papers deadline.
• Unsuccessful applicants will be permitted to withdraw their papers, should their ability to attend the meeting be contingent on the award, within one week following notification.

REQUIREMENTS OF AWARD:

• All award winners must present their paper in person at the M&M meeting in order to receive their award.
• Awardees are expected to attend and participate in the entire meeting, which runs from Sunday evening's opening reception through late Thursday afternoon.
• Awardees are required to attend the Monday morning plenary session, at which their award will be conferred.

Other Awards

The M&M meeting's co-sponsoring societies confer competitively judged awards at the meeting, in addition to those associated with paper submission. For full details, go to the meeting web site and click on "Awards & Scholarships."

Poster Awards

MSA Student Poster Awards:
Sponsored by Microscopy Society of America
MSA believes that poster presentations are an excellent format for all participants to engage in intensive discussion with other researchers in the field. To especially encourage students to take advantage of this opportunity and submit papers for poster presentation, MSA provides cash awards to the most outstanding student posters (first author) each day (one in each of three categories).

Diatome Awards
Sponsored by Diatome
Presented for the posters illustrating the best use of diamond knife ultramicrotomy in either biological or physical sciences.

• First Prize: One week, all-expense-paid trip to Switzerland
• Second Prize & Third Prize: Swiss watches

Gérard T. Simon Award for Student Poster
Sponsored by Microscopical Society of Canada
Student members of the Microscopical Society of Canada are eligible for the G.T. Simon Award for best poster presentation. Please find more information here: http://www.msc-smc.org/english:awards:start

Micrograph Competitions

IMS Metallographic Contest:
Sponsored by the International Metallographic Society

This annual contest solicits micrographs that illustrate problem-solving using a variety of imaging techniques, with cash prizes awarded in each of several classes.

MSA Micrograph Competition:
Sponsored by Microscopy Society of America

The winner of the MSA Micrograph Competition is featured in the following year's Call for Papers.

Held at the M&M Meeting each year, this micrograph competition promotes the innovative blending of art and science. Open to all forms of microscopic imaging, winners of this competition are selected on the basis of artistic merit and general audience appeal. A maximum of three (3) awards will be presented; First Prize: $200; Two Second Prizes: $50 each.

Criteria:

• Entries must be scientifically significant
• Entries must contain novel information useful in resolving a scientific issue, and/or
• Present established information in a way that dramatically enhances its comprehension or interpretation.

Rules:

1. Any individual may submit a maximum of two (2) entries (one award per entrant).
2. Entries must have overall dimensions of 11" x 14" (horizontal or vertical), and be affixed to a stiff lightweight support (e.g. ¼" foam board). Micrographs may be mounted so that they have borders.
3. Each entry must have a separate text sheet with the title and a 200-word (max) description of the image, including the technique and its scientific significance. Text is recommended to be printed in 14-pt Times New Roman font on a separate 8½" x 11" sheet. Entrant's name, address and image title shall be posted on the back of the mounted entry(ies).
4. Entries must be brought to the meeting in Hartford and mounted on the display boards by 12:00 noon on Monday, August 4, 2014.
5. Non-winning entries must be removed Thursday afternoon by 3:00 PM. Micrographs remaining after that time will be discarded.
6. Winners will be announced at the meeting. Submitted micrographs remain the property of the entrants subject to the conditions above.

MAS Best Paper Awards

MAS annually confers awards for papers presented at the M&M meeting deemed to be best in four categories. Each comes with a cash award generously provided by MAS Sustaining Members.