CANADIAN SOCIETY OF EVIDENCE-BASED POLICING
CAN-SEBP ACADEMIC
OF THE YEAR AWARD NOMINATION
Academic of the Year Award Criteria
The 'Academic of the Year' award recognizes an exceptional individual in an academic setting (faculty, researcher, or scientist) who has demonstrated outstanding dedication to advancing police practice through applied criminology and other high-quality research efforts. This award specifically recognizes work that bridges the gap between the academy and the street, fostering a genuine, impactful partnership with the Canadian policing community.
Eligibility Requirements
To be eligible for the award, the nominee must:
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Be an Active Academic: The nominee must be currently employed or actively engaged as a faculty member, researcher, or scientist at a university, college, or recognized research institution.
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Focus on Applied Policing Research: The research, projects, or efforts put forward for consideration must have a primary focus on applied criminology, experimental criminology, or other fields that directly inform and improve policing practice, policy, or operational effectiveness.
EVALUATION METRICS
Core Academic Excellence in Applied Criminology (70% Weighting)
This section focuses on the quality, relevance, and impact of the nominee's research and application efforts.
Criteria: High-Quality, Applied Research & Evaluation
Conducting and publishing rigorous, high-quality research that is directly applicable to the challenges and operational needs of Canadian policing services.
Examples of Evidence: Publishing in peer-reviewed journals on applied policing topics; successfully securing funding for police-related research (e.g., public safety grants); leading randomized controlled trials (RCTs) or robust quasi-experimental designs in collaboration with police services.
Criteria: Commitment to Practical Relevance & Translation
Demonstrating a sustained commitment to ensuring research findings are accessible, understood, and operationally usable by police practitioners.
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Examples of Evidence: Creating accessible reports or policy briefs; participating in knowledge mobilization events; co-authoring practice-focused guides; actively communicating research implications in plain language; or producing meta-analyses relevant to EBP implementation.
Criteria: Collaborative Partnership with Policing
Building and maintaining genuine, sustained, and ethical partnerships with Canadian police services, demonstrating deep respect for operational realities while maintaining scientific rigor.
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Examples of Evidence: Documented history of multi-year police partnerships; letters of support from police partners detailing collaborative successes; evidence of embedding within police organizations for data collection or project design (i.e., true co-production).
Character & Mindset (30% Weighting)
This section focuses on the nominee's personal and professional attributes that enable effective collaboration and knowledge dissemination.
Criteria: Mentorship and Knowledge Dissemination
Actively mentoring students, researchers, or practitioners in the principles and methods of evidence-based/experimental criminology.
Examples of Evidence: Supervising student theses on EBP/applied topics; presenting at practitioner conferences (e.g., CAN-SEBP, IACP); running workshops for police analysts; or using academic platforms to champion the EBP movement.
Criteria: Objectivity, Integrity, and Adaptability
Exemplifying the highest standards of research integrity and objectivity, while also displaying the adaptability and empathy necessary to conduct research within complex, fast-paced operational environments.
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Examples of Evidence: Maintaining ethical research standards; successfully navigating the ethical complexities of police data; demonstrating flexibility in research design to accommodate operational needs without compromising rigor; or providing balanced, evidence-based commentary on sensitive policing issues.
SUBMISSION & SELECTION PROCESS
Submissions, including a nomination form, curriculum vitae (CV), and supporting documentation (e.g., research papers, evidence of collaboration, letters of support), must be made to the Board of Directors of CAN-SEBP by the specified deadline. The Board will review submissions against the established criteria, with the nominee scoring highest across the weighted sections selected as the CAN-SEBP Academic of the Year.​
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