1) Introduction
This award is named in memory of E M L Beale. It is designed to give formal recognition to a sustained contribution by one person to operational research in the United Kingdom.
The President Elect's / Past President's Committee (PEC/PPC) takes responsibility for this award.
2) Eligibility
All persons other than members of the President Elect / Past President’s committee (PE/PPC) who, at the time of application, have at least ten years’ working experience, based in the United Kingdom, of operational research in industry, commerce, government, or in a University teaching or research post, are eligible for consideration. Existing holders of the Beale Medal may be considered, provided that the contribution forming the subject of the entry is in a different area or is substantially differentiated from the basis of the previous award in some other manner.
3) Award
The award shall consist of a medal cast in bronze and appropriately inscribed, together with an appropriate citation. No more than one Beale Medal may be awarded in any year.
4) Entry
Candidates may nominate themselves, be nominated by a member of The OR Society, or be nominated by the President Elect's / Past President's Committee. In respect of each nominee the required submission is a statement describing the sustained contribution made by the candidate to operational research, which must have extended over a period of at least five years. The contribution may be to the philosophy, theory or practice of operational research, or to some combination of those areas. The contribution must be such as to have advanced significantly the knowledge, understanding or practice of the subject. The statement must be endorsed by at least six independent sponsors, who shall be members of The OR Society and shall have appended their names and signatures to it.
Nominations should be emailed to [email protected] by 30th April.
5) Selection
In any year, the award will be made to the individual who, in the opinion of the PE/PPC, has made the most outstanding sustained contribution to operational research. The committee may, if necessary, take advice from outside specialists in the field, who are independent of the nominee. The decision remains the responsibility of the committee alone. The committee may decline to make an award if it considers that none of the entries is of sufficient merit.
6) Independence of Committee Members
During their term of office, members of the President Elect / Past President’s committee may make nominations, but they may NOT sponsor nominees.
7) Procedures
The whole process is the responsibility of the President Elect / Past President’s committee.
A call for nominations shall be published in February issue of Inside OR, distributed to members at the end of January.
The President Elect / Past President will make an announcement at the March / April meeting of General Council, asking for nominations (in the strictest confidence). PE/PPC may use this occasion as an opportunity to meet to discuss nominations and to seek proposers where not already suggested.
PE/PPC may request suggestions from appropriate quarters which might include the committees of Regional Societies and Special Interest Groups. The PEC/PPC will also itself generate the names of possible medalists. The entire above procedure should be on terms of strictest confidentiality. No-one (including possible medalists) outside the committee should be informed of what names were under consideration.
Suggested names should be accompanied by the supporting statement and the sponsors’ endorsements. The closing date for receipt of nominations shall be 30 April to allow the PEC/PPC to discuss them at Board/General Council/Committee meetings.
PE/PPC should remove any ineligible nominations and create a shortlist for the award, ensuring that all the necessary paperwork has been submitted. The shortlists should be emailed to Board members to ensure there are no unforeseen ‘issues’ with the candidates, and for comments which might help the committee prioritise the shortlist. Again, these comments must be given in the strictest confidence.
The committee shall convey its decision and supply a citation to the Research & Publications Coordinator no later than 10 October.
The Head of Professional Services shall then inform the candidate(s) of the outcome and arrange for the award to be announced in Inside OR and for the certificate(s) to be made. The presentation shall normally take place at the Blackett Lecture.
It is current practice that announcements relating to the Beale Medal shall be published on the society’s website as well as in Inside OR.
