Lambros ComitasThe Lambros Comitas Award for Significant Applications of Anthropology honors the legacy of Lambros Comitas, a long-time teacher, mentor, and founder of the applied anthropology program at Teachers College, Columbia University. The award supports projects aimed at addressing persistent community issues and promoting fair solutions. Awards may be for as much as $10,000 in direct costs.

This award was created with the guidance of Professor Comitas’ students, mentees, and colleagues. To learn more about his legacy, visit the Comitas Institute for Anthropological Study (https://www.cifas.us) and explore interviews with Professor Comitas from 1989, 2012, and 2020.

Eligible projects may include, but are not limited to:

  • Community-driven research: Projects that involve multiple groups in addressing a locally identified issue through applied, action-oriented solutions. Such projects could include student involvement through service learning or experiential learning models.
  • Building networks: Efforts to foster collaboration between applied social scientists and communities to develop solutions to shared problems.
  • Anthropological training: Programs aimed at advancing community-focused, collaborative ethnographic research.
  • Communities of practice: Initiatives that promote collaboration in research and practice, leading to significant, impactful outcomes for communities.

Selection will be based on the following:

  1. Project description: Include the community issue being addressed (500 words), partnering groups and their roles (500 words), how authentic collaboration is being implemented (500 words), and the expected outcomes (250 words), along with a plan for publicly sharing the results (250 words).
  2. Key personnel: Provide brief summaries of key team members, their affiliations, and relevant experience (250 words per person).
  3. Budget: Submit a budget with expense details. (Note: Do not include indirect costs.)
  4. SfAA membership: Ensure confirmation of current SfAA membership.

  • Award recipients must present their in-process or completed projects at the SfAA Annual Meeting.
  • Priority will be given to early-career applicants and projects conducted in the Caribbean or within Caribbean diaspora communities.
  • Send submissions to: info@appliedanthro.org.
  • Submission deadline: October 1

Previous Recipients