AWAS Youth Excellence Award

With an eye on the future of archaeology, AWAS honours young talent in the field

Nominations are now open for the AWAS Youth Excellence Award. This Award will recognise the work of incredible young scholars and practitioners in the field of archaeology and heritage, who are contributing to the field through their leadership, research, service, and/or practice. AWAS and the Royal Commission for AlUla hope to celebrate the excellence and commitment of young people making a significant difference in cultural heritage, site management, and archaeology projects.

What is it?

The Youth Excellence Award recognises young researchers, practitioners, academics, and more, working on archaeology and heritage projects and making meaningful contributions to the field. The Award is given to individuals whose leadership, service, and excellence demonstrate their commitment to the field, and whose work links to AWAS’ thematic areas.

Winners of the Award are invited to the bi-annual AlUla World Archaeology Summit, where they will be recognised. Each recipient will receive a $5,000 USD prize and full travel and accommodation costs will be covered. Recipients will enjoy conference benefits like networking opportunities, field visits, and more, and will be invited to join the Youth Excellence Award network.

Eligibility

Nominees must meet all the following criteria to apply:

Age 18 to 35 (at time of application)
Affiliated with a research, industry, government, or non-government entity
Demonstrates passion and focus on cultural heritage, site management, and archaeology
Involved in research and academic inquiry relevant to AWAS’ thematic focus areas and/or demonstrate involvement in field work or practice based on affiliations, jobs, or supplementary involvement

The Selection Committee will evaluate applications based on leadership, merit, community engagement and impact, commitment to ethical archaeology, alignment with AWAS’ thematic pillars, and geographic diversity. We welcome applicants from around the world, especially those with unique thematic or geographic perspectives; from the Global South or underrepresented countries; and that reflect diversity in experience.

Requirements

To apply, applicants must submit the following:

CV
Relevant work samples (e.g., research papers, project links, etc.)
Relevant awards and honours
Letters of recommendation (no more than 3)

Applicants must provide at least one, and no more than three, letters of recommendations from those who can best speak to their leadership, innovation, passion, and contributions to the field. Letters should be signed on official letterhead and no more than 2 pages long

All application components are due by 15 March 2025. Applications should be emailed to awasprogramme@rcu.gov.sa with the subject line “AWAS Youth Excellence Award Application.”

Timeline

October 2024 — Applications open
15 March 2025 — Deadline for applications
April 2025 — Selection Committee shortlists candidates
May 2025 — Finalists are selected from shortlisted candidate pool and reviewed
June 2025 — Award recipients announced
September 2025 — Award recipients honoured at AWAS Summit 2025

Contact

For more information or questions about eligibility, please contact awasprogramme@rcu.gov.sa