Overview:
The Carob Trust Prize honors academics who pursue bold ideas that challenge prevailing orthodoxies—whether political, intellectual, or methodological—and hold the potential to reshape knowledge, policy, or society. The Prize supports scholars whose work is original, rigorous, impactful, and courageous—even when it is unpopular.
Breakthroughs often begin as unpopular ideas. By honoring those who show independence, courage, and resilience, The Carob Trust Prize ensures that today’s controversial insights have the chance to become tomorrow’s common sense.
Selection Criteria:
The Prize is bestowed by an independent committee of leading scholars according to the following criteria:
- Intellectual Independence: A proven commitment to following logic and evidence wherever they lead, regardless of academic or political pressure.
- Non-Conformist Ideas: Originality and boldness of research agenda. Willingness to ask questions that others avoid—whether uncomfortable, underfunded, or unfashionable.
- Impact and Vindication: Work of excellent quality that has shifted academic debate, public discourse, or policy. Evidence that ideas criticized at the time have proven—through data, replication, or influence—to possess enduring value.
Process:
The Carob Trust Prize for Academic Courage will take a nominee’s life’s work into account. Scholars who are earlier in their careers might be considered for a smaller prize.
Nominations for the Prize can be submitted through the Nomination Portal, linked above. Nominators will be asked for short statements on candidates’ fitness as outlined by the selection criteria. Nominators may submit multiple candidates for consideration. Candidates may not nominate themselves.
The scope of the academic work considered for the inaugural 2027 Prize will be limited to the social sciences. The Committee will seek external experts as needed to properly evaluate submissions.
Only living nominees will be considered. Candidates must be citizens or legal residents of the United States.
Timeline:
- Nov. 1, 2026: Nominations due
- Spring 2027: Announcement of Prize winners
Contact:
Questions? Email prize@thecarobtrust.org
The Carob Trust Prize for Academic Courage
Overview:
The Carob Trust Prize honors academics who pursue bold ideas that challenge prevailing orthodoxies—whether political, intellectual, or methodological—and hold the potential to reshape knowledge, policy, or society. The Prize supports scholars whose work is original, rigorous, impactful, and courageous—even when it is unpopular.
Breakthroughs often begin as unpopular ideas. By honoring those who show independence, courage, and resilience, The Carob Trust Prize ensures that today’s controversial insights have the chance to become tomorrow’s common sense.
Selection Criteria:
The Prize is bestowed by an independent committee of leading scholars according to the following criteria:
- Intellectual Independence: A proven commitment to following logic and evidence wherever they lead, regardless of academic or political pressure.
- Non-Conformist Ideas: Originality and boldness of research agenda. Willingness to ask questions that others avoid—whether uncomfortable, underfunded, or unfashionable.
- Impact and Vindication: Work of excellent quality that has shifted academic debate, public discourse, or policy. Evidence that ideas criticized at the time have proven—through data, replication, or influence—to possess enduring value.
Process:
The Carob Trust Prize for Academic Courage will take a nominee’s life’s work into account. Scholars who are earlier in their careers might be considered for a smaller prize.
Nominations for the Prize can be submitted through the Nomination Portal, linked above. Nominators will be asked for short statements on candidates’ fitness as outlined by the selection criteria. Nominators may submit multiple candidates for consideration. Candidates may not nominate themselves.
The scope of the academic work considered for the inaugural 2027 Prize will be limited to the social sciences. The Committee will seek external experts as needed to properly evaluate submissions.
Only living nominees will be considered. Candidates must be citizens or legal residents of the United States.
Timeline:
- Nov. 1, 2026: Nominations due
- Spring 2027: Announcement of Prize winners
Contact:
Questions? Email prize@thecarobtrust.org