Overview:
The Carob Trust Prize honors academics who pursue bold ideas that challenge prevailing orthodoxies—on either side of the political aisle—and hold the potential to reshape knowledge, policy, or society. The Prize supports scholars whose work is original, impactful, and courageous—even when it is unpopular. In the same spirit, the Prize also honors academic leaders who promote truth-seeking by spearheading innovative institutional reform efforts.
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.
- Innovative Academic Leadership: Institutional reforms that promote intellectual independence, impacting their home institution and higher education more broadly.
Process:
To be considered for the Prize, a candidate must be nominated through the neighboring link. 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 2026 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:
- May 1: Nominations due
- September: Announcement of Prize winners
- October: Annual Carob Trust Prize Award Ceremony
The Carob Trust Prize for Academic Leadership
Overview:
The Carob Trust Prize honors academics who pursue bold ideas that challenge prevailing orthodoxies—on either side of the political aisle—and hold the potential to reshape knowledge, policy, or society. The Prize supports scholars whose work is original, impactful, and courageous—even when it is unpopular. In the same spirit, the Prize also honors academic leaders who promote truth-seeking by spearheading innovative institutional reform efforts.
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.
- Innovative Academic Leadership: Institutional reforms that promote intellectual independence, impacting their home institution and higher education more broadly.
Process:
To be considered for the Prize, a candidate must be nominated through the neighboring link. 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 2026 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:
- May 1: Nominations due
- September: Announcement of Prize winners
- October: Annual Carob Trust Prize Award Ceremony