Modified January 15, 2002

Long ago, when the Society was younger and less financially secure than it is today, a decision was taken to safeguard the Society's funds by placing them in a reserve fund independent of the Society. So was born the EBPS Foundation. Subsequently, the Society's affairs were placed on a more stable legal and financial footing, and it became unnecessary to maintain a reserve fund. This led to an extensive debate, between the Trustees of the Foundation and the Executive Committee of the Society, as to how best to use the funds held in trust by the Foundation. As members who attend EBPS Annual General Meetings will know, these discussions have been protracted, and not always easy. However, I am delighted to announce that agreement has now been reached to use the funds held by the Foundation to institute a set of prizes for distinguished contributions to behavioural pharmacology.

We have agreed that there will be three categories of EBPS Foundation Prizes:

1. Young Scientist Awards will be made for outstanding contributions to behavioural pharmacology within the first 8 years (or equivalent) of post-doctoral research.
2. Distinguished Achievement Awards will honour distinguished contributions to research, teaching or the promotion of behavioural pharmacology in the wider community.
3. Poster Prizes will be awarded to the authors of the most innovative and interesting posters presented at EBPS biennial meetings.

The attached document, which has been signed by me, as President of EBPS, and by Lex Cools, as Chair of the EBPS Foundation, gives full details of the nature of each award, who is eligible to be nominated, the process by which nominations will be made, and the selection procedures. I am distributing the full text of the agreement to all members of the Society so that the process is completely transparent.

Paul Willner

Prizes to be awarded at EBPS biennial meetings

It has been agreed between the EBPS EC and the Trustees of the EBPS Foundation that funds from the Foundation will be used to institute a set of prizes that will be conferred at each EBPS biennial meeting.

In this context, it is agreed that:

(i) There will be three categories of prize: 

1. Young scientist awards

2. Distinguished achievement awards

3. Poster prizes

(ii) For as long as the prizes are funded by the Foundation, the prizes will be known as 'The EBPS Foundation Prizes'

(iii) The Society will continue to support these awards from its own funds when the Foundation's funds have been expended, provided it is financially prudent to do so.

(iv) Provided agreement is reached in a sufficiently timely fashion, the first prizes will be conferred at the 2001 biennial meeting in Marseilles. These will consist of one prize in each of categories 1 and 2 and up to 3 prizes in category 3.

(v) In this case, a Trustee of the Foundation will be invited to attend the EC meeting in Marseilles to agree details of future awards.

(vi) The selection committee for prizes in categories 1 and 2 will consist of: 1. The current President of EBPS 2. The President-Elect of EBPS 3. The immediate past President of EBPS 4. A Trustee of the EBPS Foundation 5. A member of the EBPS Full Committee

(vii) The procedures and regulations relating to these awards will be reviewed by the EC and the Trustees in 2003.

(viii) Pending this review, the attached regulations are agreed, for each category of award.

Signed by:

Prof. P. Willner     8.3.01   (for the Executive Committee of the EBPS)

Prof. A. Cools     21.2.01   (for the Trustees of the EBPS Foundation)

Young scientist award

Nature of award (i) A cash award of E750 (ii) A commemorative certificate (iii) Free registration for the EBPS biennial meeting (iv) Funding to attend the meeting, if essential.

Eligibility (i) Fully paid-up members of EBPS, including student members (ii) No more than 8 years of post-doctoral research experience (iii) The time limit will be extended as appropriate for individuals who have worked part-time or taken a career break. (iv) Proposal by a third party (who will also be a fully paid-up or student member of EBPS), to consist of: 1. A statement of the candidate's research achievements, which could be prepared in collaboration with the candidate 2. The candidate's C.V. 3. The candidate's agreement

Distinguished achievement award

Nature of award: (i) Life membership of EBPS (ii) A commemorative certificate (iii) Free registration for the EBPS biennial meeting (iv) Funding to attend the meeting, if essential. (v) Consideration will be given to the possibility of including a contribution relating to this award in the programme of the EBPS biennial meeting.

Eligibility: (i) Fully paid-up members of EBPS (ii) Members of the selection committee are ineligible (iii) Proposal by a third party (who will also be a fully paid-up or student member of EBPS), to consist of a statement of the candidate's achievements in research, teaching, or the promotion of behavioural pharmacology in the wider community

Poster prizes

Nature of awards: (i) A cash award of E250 (ii) A commemorative certificate

Eligibility: Any poster presented at a biennial meeting (no restriction as to Society membership)

Selection: A committee of EBPS Full Committee members,  chaired by a member of the EC