Overview of the Praxis Award Competition

Since 1981, the Washington Association of Professional Anthropologists (WAPA) biennial Praxis Award competition has recognized outstanding achievement in translating anthropological knowledge into action as reflected in a single project or finite endeavor. Ideal award candidates are anthropologists who can demonstrate the value of anthropological knowledge, theory and methods to solve problems addressed through public and/or private sector efforts (e.g., government, industry, or non-profit). The competition is open to anyone holding an MA or PhD in any sub-field of anthropology. In exceptional cases, applicants with a BA in anthropology may be considered (for example, in countries where the anthropology BA is considered to be a final degree).

The ward recipients will receive a cash prize and will be recognized at a Praxis Award ceremony and reception at the 2028 meeting of the Society for Applied Anthropology.  In addition to the first place winner, up to four runners-up will also be recognized. Submission information is available on the Praxis Awards Guidelines page.

No more than 7 years should have passed between the project conclusion and the award entry receipt. Exceptions will be made for extraordinary projects and efforts. This is not a career or lifetime achievement award; rather, it recognizes the value of applying anthropology through projects that produce a clearly articulated result.

Submissions should clearly demonstrate how the entrant used anthropology to effectively address contemporary human problems. WAPA accepts submissions from individuals, mixed-discipline groups, or organizations where at least one anthropologist worked on and influenced the designated project. Entries are encouraged from anthropologists worldwide. All entries will be evaluated by an expert panel of anthropological practitioners.

It is very important to be familiar with the award guidelines. Each cycle, promising and noteworthy submissions fall short of success because they do not adequately demonstrate how anthropology was meaningfully incorporated into the effort. A quick re-purposing of existing documents is unlikely to be effective. Submission of the optional pre-application form serves to determine whether completing the full application is in your interest.

Submission of an optional pre-entry form is strongly encouraged. Full applications comprise a descriptive essay that answers questions posed in the application form. Applicants can provide optional supporting letters and  testimonials from project clients and beneficiaries, and  any relevant media releases if these will strengthen the application.

To better understand the types of achievements that merit the award, see the Praxis Award Recipients document, which lists all prior award recipients, with brief descriptions of their competition entries.

WAPA established the Praxis Award for Excellence in the Practice of Anthropology to recognize the significant, often groundbreaking work performed in government and industry by the discipline’s practitioners in translating anthropological knowledge into action to address their clients’ problems.

The award competition was established in 1981, awarded again in 1982, and since then has been awarded on a biennial, odd-numbered year basis.   A list of Praxis Award recipients was researched and compiled by Amy Carattini and Charles Cheney in 2011, and is updated biennially as new recipients are announced.

Updated 03 October 2026