Paul Davidoff Book Award

(Awarded in odd-numbered years)

Deadline EXTENDED for Nominations! New deadline: June 30, 2009

The Paul Davidoff award is presented by the Association of Collegiate Schools of Planning (ACSP) to honor the memory of a revered and respected activist academic in the field of modern city planning.

Paul Davidoff was an unyielding force for justice and equity in planning. He viewed planning as a process to address a wide range of societal problems and to improve conditions for all people. He challenged academics and professionals alike to find ways to promote participatory planning and positive social change; to overcome poverty and racism and to reduce disparities in society. Before his untimely death, he implemented major contributions to the field as an educator, practitioner and intellectual. His influence in planning extends to this day. His work constitutes a watershed in the theory and practice of community planning.

The Paul Davidoff award was established in 1981 by ACSP and is one of the most prestigious honors in the academic planning field.

Purpose: The Paul Davidoff award recognizes an outstanding book publication promoting participatory planning and positive social change, opposing poverty and racism as factors in society and seeking ways to reduce disparities between rich and poor; white and black; men and women.

The award is granted biennially to the publication which most reflects Davidoff’s commitments and values.

Eligibility:*

  1. The nominated work must be a book. If the nominated publication is an edited book, it will be considered if it is a coherent whole [other edited books, articles and reports are not eligible].
  2. The nominated work may have single or multiple authors.
  3. The nominated book must have been published within five (5) years of the date of the award.
  4. Previously nominated books may be re-nominated and will be considered anew.
  5. The nominated book must relate to the practice or theory of planning or provide critical background concepts or research important to the profession of planning.
  6. The nominated book must reflect Paul Davidoff’s commitments and values in a manner consistent with the high quality of all his endeavors.

*These guidelines were reviewed Winter 2009.

Who may nominate:

Nominations may come from any individual or organization including publishers, academics, public or private organizations, agencies or institutions. Agencies are limited to three nominations; faculty and students may be involved in the identification of nominations.

The nomination process:

Each nomination must submit five copies of the book and a letter of nomination which includes:

  1. The authors’ name, publication title, place and date.
  2. A brief abstract of contents.
  3. A summary statement of the consistency of the submission with the award purposes and the quality of the contribution.
  4. The name and contact information (including email address).
  5. No more than three (3) letters of support of the nominated book (optional).

Nominations may be emailed but the nomination package must be mailed by June 30, 2009 to:

Dr. Marcia Marker Feld
Executive Director Emerita
University of Rhode Island
5 Hamlin Road
Newton Centre, MA 02459
mfeld@uri.edu
617.965.0166

The 2009 Paul Davidoff Award Committee

Barry Checkaway
University of Michigan
313.763.2322
barrych@umich.edu

Marcia Marker Feld
University of Rhode Island
401.277.5235
mfeld@uri.edu

Pierre Clavel
Cornell University
607 255 4331
Pc29@cornell.edu

Lawrence J. Vale
MIT
617.253.0561
LJVale@MIT.edu

Victoria Beard
University of California, Irvine
949.824.8566
vbeard@uci.edu

WE WELCOME YOUR NOMINATIONS