These awards recognize peer-reviewed research that demonstrates significant impact, or potential for impact, through discoveries that address pressing and emerging critical issues facing agriculture, the environment, and society. Nominated publications must have appeared in a scholarly journal in the previous two years.

Nomination Criteria

  • Up to eight (8) publications will be recognized as a part of the High-Impact Research Publication Awards:
    • One publication in each of the six Impact Area Themes outlined below.
      • These themes are intended to be broad, encompassing all of the college’s research portfolio. Applicants are encouraged to think about the potential of their research in advancing science to address these critical issues.
    • Up to two publications for the Roy C. Buck Faculty Awards.
      • See below for specific eligibility criteria.
  • Nominated publications will only be considered in one Impact Area Theme (please do not submit the same publication for multiple impact area themes) or as a Roy C. Buck Faculty Award.
  • In cases where more than two publications from lead authors in a single department are nominated for the Impact Area Theme awards, the department head will be asked to down select to a maximum of two nominations per impact area theme to move forward for consideration.

Climate-Smart Agriculture and Forestry 

Finding balanced solutions to sustain a growing global population.

  • This research seeks to effectively reduce the emissions from agricultural production while also increasing resilience and adaptability to both volatile and enduring environmental shifts.
  • Nominated publications must have appeared in a scholarly journal in the previous two years.
    • Self-nominations or nominations by colleagues are welcomed. To be eligible, at least one author on the publication must have a faculty appointment in the College of Agricultural Sciences. Group nominations with multiple authors from CAS are also eligible.
  • Read more about Climate-Smart Agriculture and Forestry and impacts reported from the college.

Nutritional and Food Security

Taking a comprehensive approach to solutions that ensure the availability and access to safe, affordable, and healthy food.

  • This research addresses the impacts of a wide range of factors such as an unpredictable climate or socio-economic instability that can jeopardize reliable access to nutritious food.
  • Nominated publications must have appeared in a scholarly journal in the previous two years.
    • Self-nominations or nominations by colleagues are welcomed. To be eligible, at least one author on the publication must have a faculty appointment in the College of Agricultural Sciences. Group nominations with multiple authors from CAS are also eligible.
  • Read more about Nutritional and Food Security and impacts reported from the college.

Biodiversity

Promoting mutually beneficial interactions among all living organisms on Earth to ensure diversity across the genes of individuals, entire populations of species, and the ecosystems in which they live.

  • This research helps to regenerate and preserve the complexity that Earth’s living organisms will need to adapt and withstand climate volatility, increased disease pressures, threats of invasive species, and changing land use patterns.
  • Nominated publications must have appeared in a scholarly journal in the previous two years.
    • Self-nominations or nominations by colleagues are welcomed. To be eligible, at least one author on the publication must have a faculty appointment in the College of Agricultural Sciences. Group nominations with multiple authors from CAS are also eligible.
  • Read more about Biodiversity and impacts reported from the college.

One Health

Addressing health as an integrated challenge at the intersections between people, animals, plants, and the environment they inhabit.

  • This research recognizes critical interconnections across systems and is uncovering interdisciplinary solutions that will enhance biosecurity, promote positive health outcomes, and sustain agricultural development.
  • Nominated publications must have appeared in a scholarly journal in the previous two years.
    • Self-nominations or nominations by colleagues are welcomed. To be eligible, at least one author on the publication must have a faculty appointment in the College of Agricultural Sciences. Group nominations with multiple authors from CAS are also eligible.
  • Read more about One Health and impacts reported from the college.

Human and Community Dynamics

Strengthening the development and resilience of communities and the individuals within them, especially as they are faced with social, economic, and environmental shocks and stresses.

  • This research analyzes existing challenges and forecasts the impacts of future disruptions to provide sustainable strategies and policy recommendations that sustain food and energy systems, promote agritourism and entrepreneurship, and ensure community health.
  • Nominated publications must have appeared in a scholarly journal in the previous two years.
    • Self-nominations or nominations by colleagues are welcomed. To be eligible, at least one author on the publication must have a faculty appointment in the College of Agricultural Sciences. Group nominations with multiple authors from CAS are also eligible.
  • Read more about Human and Community Dynamics and impacts reported from the college.

Integrated Ecosystems

Advancing data-driven solutions for better management of complex agricultural and natural resource systems.

  • This research harnesses and shapes the capabilities of data analytics, computational modeling, artificial intelligence, machine learning, remote sensing, and predictive technologies to achieve healthy and thriving agriculture, natural systems, economies, and communities.
  • Nominated publications must have appeared in a scholarly journal in the previous two years.
    • Self-nominations or nominations by colleagues are welcomed. To be eligible, at least one author on the publication must have a faculty appointment in the College of Agricultural Sciences. Group nominations with multiple authors from CAS are also eligible.
  • Learn more about Integrated Ecosystems and impacts reported from the college.

Roy C. Buck Faculty Award

The purpose of this award shall be to honor and recognize an untenured, tenure-track faculty member in the College of Agricultural Sciences, whose research involves the social or human sciences.

  • Nominated publications must have appeared in a scholarly journal in the previous two years.
  • Self-nominations or nominations by colleagues are welcomed. To be eligible, the recognized author must have a tenure-track appointment in the College of Agricultural Sciences (but untenured at the time of the award). Publications may have multiple authors, but only single nominations can be accepted (group nominations are not eligible). 
  • Past recipients are not eligible.
  • Two Roy C. Buck Faculty Awards will be made: One award will be made to recognize impactful research in the social sciences, and a second award will be made to recognize impactful research that has a direct impact on human health, behavior, or well-being.
  • Learn more about the Roy C. Buck Faculty Awards and view previous awardees.

Nomination Form Requirements

  • Title of Refereed Article
  • Publication Date
  • Journal Title
  • DOI
  • Statement on the qualifications of this publication as worthy of consideration as a High-Impact Research Publication or as a Buck Award
  • Category (Impact Area Theme or Buck Award Nomination)
  • Is the Submitter an author on this publication?
  • List of Co-Authors (for Impact Area Theme publication awards only)
  • Upload PDF of published paper
  • Department Head of the Lead Author

Nomination Deadline

Nominations due September 6, 2024.

SUBMIT NOMINATION

Recent Recipients

2023 Awardees
2022 Awardees
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Office for Research and Graduate Education

Address

217 Agricultural Administration Building
University Park, PA 16802-2600