James W. Vaupel Trailblazer Award for Innovation in Demography (all levels of seniority)

This Award honors innovative contributions by an individual scholar to demography and the interdisciplinary study of population. Trailblazing achievements include novel approaches in the development and application of the methods and models of demographic analysis, as well as the development of new theoretical approaches, the exploration of novel data sources and new interdisciplinary collaborations. Innovation is key to this award.

The Award is dedicated to the groundbreaking contributions of James W. Vaupel (1945-2021) to demographic research and his role as the founding father of lasting demographic institutions and organizations. It also emphasizes his role as an inspirational educator and mentor with an immense influence on the careers of many generations of demographers.

Nominations for this Award can be made up to two months before the start of a European Population Conference. The next deadline 1 April 2026!

Rules of Play

• This Award is presented every four years, with the next edition in 2026.
• The award is open to all levels of seniority.
• Candidates should be a member of EAPS at the time of nomination.
• Candidates should be nominated by a member of EAPS; nominations should be supported by at least 3 additional members of EAPS residing in at least 2 different countries.
• Candidates may also nominate themselves; self-nominations should be supported by at least 3 additional members of EAPS residing in at least 2 different countries.
• The Jury may invite nominations as well.
• Nominations should include a short (maximum one page) explanatory statement, a curriculum vitae of the candidate, and a list of members who support the nomination.
• Nominations should be sent to EAPS and will be treated confidentially.
• The Council of EAPS appoints an independent Jury for this Award.
• The Jury consists of at least three members of EAPS, one of whom will act as Chair.
• The Jury is free to organize its work as it deems appropriate and follows generally accepted scientific principles and criteria.
• The Jury will account for years of experience and will also account for justified leave periods.
• Jury proceedings are confidential. The Jury submits a written report to the EAPS Council indicating the successful candidate and the motivation of the Jury.
• The Award will be presented at the European Population Conference.
• The James W. Vaupel Trailblazer Award comes with a Euro 1000 cash benefit and a Certificate.

Laureates

2024

Iñaki Permanyer, Centre d’Estudis Demogràfics (CED), Spain

2022

Melinda Mills, Leverhulme Centre for Demographic Science (LCDS), University of Oxford, UK

2020

Martin Kolk, Stockholm University, Sweden

2018

Carlo Giovanni Camarda, Institut national d’études démographiques INED, France

2016

Emilio Zagheni, University of Washington, USA

2014

Annette Baudisch, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research MPIDR, Germany