The Iris Book Award is an annual prize of $2000 given to an outstanding work at the intersection of science, religion, and technology. Specifically, the prize recognizes scholarship that, in explicit or implicit ways, offers new insights into the meaning and status of the human being in relation to powerful cultural and historical forces emanating from religion/theology, nature, science and/or technology.

Eligibility and Nomination Process:

Eligibility: Books eligible for the Iris Award must be two years past their publication date, in order that their impact can be assessed, but no more than 8 years post-publication. For example, the prize to be awarded in 2020 will consider books published between 2011 and 2018. Edited volumes are not eligible but co-authored works are. Books must be published in English.

Nomination: Publishers may nominate one book per year. Nominations from publishers are due Feb 15. Nominations are also received from 12-15 scholars in the field who are selected by the Iris Award jury and formally invited to serve in this capacity.

Nominated books are evaluated by the award jury whose composition changes annually. Previously nominated books will remain in the pool until their eligibility expires.

Nominations should address the award criteria (below) in no more than 350 words per nomination and should be sent to lsideris@indiana.edu and copied to thehuman@indiana.edu

Publishers wishing to nominate a book should be prepared to send 4 copies to:

Lisa Sideris
Associate Director, Center for Religion and the Human
Sycamore 230
Indiana University
Bloomington, Indiana
47405

Questions should be directed to lsideris@indiana.edu

Announcement of Award:

Awards are announced in June.  The winning author will be honored in the following September at a ceremony and workshop held at the Center for Religion and the Human at Indiana University.

Iris Award criteria:

• Work that contributes to understanding the human in relation to contemporary or historical intersections of science and/or technology, nature, and religion/theology.
• Work that thinks beyond existing categories or methods in religion and science;
• Work that exemplifies open-minded inquiry and/or intellectual humility;
• Skillful integration of interdisciplinary perspectives or methodologies;
• Exemplary writing and clarity of expression;
• Demonstrated or anticipated impact on understanding the relationship between science/technology, nature, and religion