SLAS Innovation Award

…recognizing laboratory innovation and technology advancement

Mission Statement

What are we looking for?

• a fundamental study to develop new technology for the laboratory,
• a new application of technology to laboratory automation, or
• a use of technology to solve a unique problem.

Award

Submit to Win Participation/Presentation at Chemtech World Expo 2011
SLAS is partnering with Chemtech World Expo to bring the top presenters at LabAutomation2011 and within the field of laboratory automation to Mumbai, India February 23-26, 2011. The Innovation Award finalists may be selected as elite presenters at this international event.

The Panel of Judges

The SLAS President only votes to break any ties when all scoring is final. Judges may not have or have had any formal association with the candidates — either direct or indirect. Judges must recuse themselves from evaluating any candidate wherein there exists a relationship such as family, business, financial or other, e.g. academic, student/professional association. Judges must sign a non-conflict of interest certification form ensuring no improper purposes. It is expected that any issues are declared by the judges. The Chairman makes the final decision on any questionable issues.

Presentation Evaluation

1. Selection of the LabAutomation Podium Presentations
   In assembling the program for LabAutomation, the Scientific Committee selects qualifying podium presentations from the abstracts received in response to the Call for Papers. To qualify for entry into the SLAS Innovation Award contest, an abstract must be received prior to the Call for Papers deadline of August 9, 2010 and the author must opt-in for consideration using the appropriate check box.

2. Preliminary Screening
   Working from the conference's selected abstracts, the panel of judges scores all the abstracts thereby identifying the SLAS Innovation Award Finalists for evaluation at LabAutomation. The panel of judges reviews only those podium presentations selected and slotted for the conference by the SLAS Scientific Committee. Short course instructors, poster presenters, and plenary speakers* are not eligible. All candidates must adhere to the SLAS Abstract Submission policies, timelines, rules and regulations¹.

   Here's how the preliminary screening works:
   The Scientific Committee selects podium presentations for LabAutomation. The judges (not including the SLAS President) are assigned to review and score the abstracts. (See "Scoring" below). The Chairman assigns all abstracts for evaluation to the panel of judges. Each of the podium presentations will be scored by a minimum of two judges. Upon completion of the first scoring phase, the Judging Panel will convene by teleconference to select the Top 20 to 25 Candidate presentations. These Top Candidates will be offered the opportunity to submit an extended abstract for review by the panel. An extended abstract is strongly encouraged by the Judging Panel to allow better differentiation of the leading candidates. Failure to submit information in time for the next selection phase will jeopardize the author's chances for inclusion in the finalists.

   Upon completion of this second phase the SLAS Innovation Award Panel of Judges will announce the Innovation Award Finalists to compete for the award at the LabAutomation Conference.

   Request for Additional Information:
   As part of the preliminary screening process, and in coordination with Chairman and panel, a candidate author may be contacted to answer further questions.

3. Judging of Presentations at LabAutomation
   The judging panel will attend and evaluate each of the candidate's presentations and will collectively select the winner of the SLAS Innovation Award. In scoring the presentations the judges will consider the following:
   1. Impact on Laboratory Automation
      Will this work make a noticeable contribution to the field of Laboratory Automation? Will it substantially reduce the cost, change the workflow, or improve the quality of laboratory processes? Is the method robust enough to allow routine implementation? Will it have widespread adoption over the next 10 years? Did the presenter explain why he/she was doing the research and who will benefit from this research/technology? Would this advancement only benefit a small group of people, or could it have far reaching/global impact and change laboratory automation as we know it?

   2. Originality/Creativity
      How novel is the approach or solution? Is this work a creative solution to a new problem or a new twist on an old theme? Can this approach be applied to a range of problems or is it limited to one particular case? Is this "me too" science applied to a slightly different problem?

   3. Quality of the Science
      Was the experiment performed properly? Can improvements be made either with the science or the technology? Do the data reflect reaching a fundamental limit? What is the confidence that the result is correct? Are the results repeatable and were the results repeated? Are there better methods to solve the same problem? Did the presenter appropriately report any limitations of the methods? If this work is early in development, are there any major hurdles to overcome prior to widespread success? Does the presenter understand the uncertainty of the measurements/methods?

   4. Oral Presentation
      Was the oral presentation in alignment with the written abstract? Did the presenter explain the key concept(s) well enough so that a well-educated listener could follow his/her main train of thought? Was the presenter able to keep the audience's attention throughout the presentation? Was the presentation well organized with respect to its look-and-feel (e.g., large enough fonts, suitable colors, readable graphics, etc.)? Was the presentation's content organized in a logical manner? Did the presenter answer questions from the audience in a satisfactory manner? Did the presenter provide the correct amount of background material so that the general SLAS audience can understand the subject? Did the audience seem excited by the presentation?

Scoring

Rules & Regulations
The SLAS Innovation Award Timeline Cycle:

1. The SLAS Innovation Award panel is appointed by and serves at the discretion of the SLAS Board of Directors. The SLAS Innovation Award panel of judges will commence activities following the annual timeline below:

   September — Review of podium abstracts accepted into the LabAutomation2010 Scientific Program

   Early-October — Selection of the Top 20 to 25 SLAS Innovation Award Candidates

   Mid-October — SLAS announces the SLAS Innovation Award Finalists (up to 10)

   LabAutomation Conference — Top Finalists' presentations are judged and the selection of the Innovation Award winner is completed

   February — Media announcements, JALA follow-up

   March — Manuscripts due to JALA for publication

2. Candidates are encouraged to be members of the association to participate in the contest and/or win the SLAS Innovation Award; however, membership is not required.

3. Once selected, each of the Top 20 to 25 Candidates will have the opportunity to submit an extended abstract by August 9, 2010. The extended abstract will be comprised of no more than two pages, including 2-3 figures of supporting documentation. Upon review of these extended abstracts, the panel will narrow the field to the Innovation Award Finalists, who will compete for the 2010 Innovation Award at LabAutomation2010 in Palm Springs, CA.

4. All of the Innovation Award Finalists will be required to submit a manuscript to JALA for publication by March 14, 2011. These requirements will be outlined in the Letter of Intent allowing SLAS to use the abstracts for press releases and other media announcements.

5. The panel of judges reviews only those podium presentations selected and slotted for the conference by the SLAS Scientific Committee (not short courses, posters, or plenary presentations). All candidates must adhere to the SLAS Abstract Submission policies, timelines, rules and regulations¹.

6. The following list of individuals is not eligible to participate in the SLAS Innovation Award program: SLAS Board of Directors, officers, the LabAutomation Scientific Committee*, contractors, employees, members of the Judging Panel, family members, and/or those considered to be "insiders." Candidates affiliated with anyone on the Judging Panel are permitted to participate, but the Judge must recuse him or herself from evaluating that particular candidate.

   * The LabAutomation Scientific Committee comprises a Chairman, Associate Chairman, Track Chairs and Associate Track Chairs. Session Chairs are not members of the LabAutomation Scientific Committee, and therefore are eligible to participate.

7. Monetary disbursement — the $10,000 cash prize will be awarded on the final day of the LabAutomation conference and exhibition during the final plenary session. The following rules apply:
   • The candidate presentation author, a co-author, or a representative must be present to accept the award at the final plenary session. In the event that a representative is not present, the Innovation Award will be forfeited.
   • The $10,000 cash prize is awarded solely to the winning presenting author
   • Once selected, the Innovation Award Finalists must sign the SLAS Letter of Intent recognizing sole responsibility for the cash award and releasing SLAS of liability, taxes, candidate employer policies, and any other obligations.
   • In recognition of the varying employer policies governing employee acceptance of monetary prizes, those employer policies will be recognized and honored by SLAS to the extent they are not inconsistent with and do not conflict with SLAS policy and/or GAAP. However, SLAS will not be responsible or liable for said policies. Winners have the option to decline the monetary award.
   • The monetary award is not to be considered an obligation of SLAS.

Non-Discrimination Statement

¹Abstract Submission Policy

Indicate your abstract presentation preference:

• Podium
• Poster Presentation
• Either

All abstracts will be considered for the Innovation Award contest unless otherwise noted by the author.

Please submit the following information:

• Presenting author
• Organization
• Address
• Telephone
• Fax
• E-mail
• Co-author(s) and their affiliation(s), if different
• Abstract Title
• Abstract (see format instructions)
• Online abstract updating (Login to the SLAS web and update your abstract, add or delete co-authors and more)

Those authors whose abstracts are accepted are responsible for their own travel, lodging and conference registration expenses. Waiver of registration fees will be considered upon request for those requiring financial assistance. Contact Brenda Dreier, SLAS's Director of Event Management, at bdreier@slas.org for the Financial Assistance Form.

In order to ensure that your abstract receives proper consideration for this award, please be sure to include information on methods, results and conclusions in your submitted abstract.

1. Rules, regulations and guidelines are subject to change at the discretion of the SLAS Board of Directors in accordance with bylaws, polices, and procedures.

2. SLAS reserves the right to select, de-select and/or restrict participation of the Innovation Award Finalists at Chemtech 2011. Restrictions may apply and logistics will be handled as soon as possible. Selection as a Finalists does not guarantee participation or invitation to present at Chemtech World Expo. Financial considerations are not to be considered an obligation of SLAS.

* Plenary speakers are not eligible to submit their plenary talk for consideration for the Innovation Award. However, those individuals giving a plenary talk may also choose to submit an abstract to be considered for the LabAutomation2011 Scientific Program and to be considered for the Innovation Award upon acceptance into the program.

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