Beatrice Medicine Award

The Society for Applied Anthropology recognizes the life and legacy of Dr. Beatrice Medicine with a student travel award named in her honor. An esteemed anthropologist and member of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, Dr. Medicine’s work emphasized cultural understanding, particularly around Native peoples, and her contributions continue to inspire future generations. Her notable publications include Learning to Be an Anthropologist and Remaining Native (2001) and Drinking and Sobriety Among the Lakota Sioux (2006).

Learn more about Bea Medicine

Three $750 awards are available to students who meet the following criteria:

  • Must have been enrolled as a student during part of the current year.
  • Must have an accepted paper or poster abstract for the SfAA Annual Meeting program.

The awards help support travel expenses to attend the SfAA Annual Meeting.

  • Submit a a short essay (up to 500 words) explaining your career goals.
  • Deadline: December 20
  • Announcement: Results will be announced in January.

In honor of Dr. Medicine’s commitment to teaching, research, and advocacy for Native people, applicants are encouraged to reflect on their own career goals. The following questions may help guide the essay:

  • What are my future career goals, and how could they benefit others?
  • How have my career goals evolved, and what influenced this development?
  • In what ways can the social sciences enhance understanding of the human experience?
  • How could participation in the SfAA Annual Meeting support my professional goals?

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John Bodley Travel Award Statement Information

Eligibility

Students must be registered for the meeting and have submitted a paper or poster abstract by the submission deadline.

Submission

Applicants must submit a short essay (up to 500 words) explaining how participation in the Annual Meeting will further your professional goals.

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Human Rights Defender Travel Award Statement Information

Eligibility

Students must be registered for the meeting and have submitted a paper or poster abstract by the submission deadline.

Submission

Applicants must submit a short essay (up to 500 words) which describes their interest in human rights, and the conjunction of this topic to their applied research interests. The essay may include a description of prior and/or current human rights advocacy activities in which the student has engaged.

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Del Jones Travel Award Statement Information

Eligibility

Students must be registered for the meeting and have submitted a paper abstract by the submission deadline. Students who are presenting a poster are not eligible.

Submission

Applicants must submit a short essay (up to 500 words) explaining how participation in the Annual Meeting will further your professional goals. The essay may also include information, which documents the interest of the applicant in efforts to transform the lives of disadvantaged peoples.

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Gil Kushner Travel Award Statement Information

Eligibility

Students must be registered for the meeting and have submitted a paper or poster abstract which has been accepted for the annual meeting program. Following the contributions of Gil’s professional life, the abstract (and paper or poster) should be concerned with the persistence of cultural groups.

Submission

Applicants must submit a short essay (up to 500 words) explaining how participation in the annual meeting will further the professional goals of the applicant. The essay may also include information, which documents the interest of the applicant in the persistence of cultural groups.

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Bea Medicine Travel Award Statement Information

Eligibility

Students must be registered for the meeting and have submitted a paper or poster abstract by the submission deadline.

Submission

Prospective student applicants should provide the following information and materials:
  • Address
  • Current College Where Enrolled
  • Major Field of Study
  • Native Tribe/Community Affiliation
  • One Page Career Goal Essay
Career Goal Essay:
Dr. Medicine's professional life was devoted to teaching and research, and with a particular commitment to expanding the understanding of Native people. As you prepare the essay on your career goals, you may wish to consider some of the following questions.
  • What would I like to do in the future and how will this benefit other people?
  • How have my career plans evolved over time and what has influenced this evolution?
  • Are there particular ways that I think the social sciences can lead to a better understanding of the human condition?
  • How would my attendance at the SfAA Annual Meeting help to further my career interests?
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Spicer Travel Award Statement Information

Eligibility

Students must be registered for the meeting and have submitted a paper abstract by the submission deadline. Students who are presenting a poster are not eligible.

Submission

Applicants must submit a short essay (up to 500 words) explaining how participation in the Annual Meeting will further your professional goals.

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Involuntary Resettlement Travel Award Statement Information

Eligibility

Students must be registered for the meeting and have submitted a paper abstract by the submission deadline. Students who are presenting a poster are not eligible.

Submission

Applicants must submit a short essay (up to 500 words) on the global implications of wide-spread displacement and involuntary resettlement which has resulted from economic development. The hazards of such displacement are well known and have a profound impact on developed countries as well as indigenous populations.

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Student Endowed Award Statement Information

Eligibility

Individuals who are currently enrolled as students -- both graduate and undergraduate, international and domestic -- may apply. Moreover, the award is not restricted to anthropology students; those enrolled in the applied social sciences and other related disciplines are also strongly encouraged to apply. Current membership in the SfAA is not required. Officers and former officers of the Student Committee may not apply. Attendance at the upcoming SfAA annual meeting is required in order to receive the award.

Submission

Submit a short essay (up to 500 words) on “How have applied theories and methods influenced your research or career goals, and how might participation in the SfAA help you to achieve these goals?” Whether you are experienced in applied methodologies or not, we encourage you to write this essay to explore the idea of how applied methods and your active membership in SfAA could inspire (or has already inspired or transformed) your research or career as a social scientist.

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Previous Recipients