AWARDS
GENERAL RULES
EVALUATION COMMITTEE
- Each abstract or participant may receive only one award. If in previous years the participant received one award, cannot be eligible again.
- In the event of ties, additional considerations may guide the final decision.
- Decisions of the Scientific Committee and jury are final and not subject to appeal.
- Awards will be announced in the closing ceremony.
- Hana Kahleova
- Jordi Salas-Salvadó
- John Sievenpiper
- Haris Dimosthenopoulos
- Anne-Marie Aas
- Laura Chiavaroli
- Maria Lankinen
- Stefan Kabisch
- Jeffrey I. Mechanick
- Cyril Kendall
- Nancy Babio
- Julio Plaza-Díaz
- Sangeetha Shyam
- Héctor Vázquez-Lorente
SCIENTIFIC AWARDS
The following awards are evaluated strictly and exclusively using the Abstract Review Form scores and reviewer comments.
2 STUDENT DNSG TRAVEL
AWARDS (€500 EACH)
Eligibility: PhD students or Junior Post-Docs (< 40 years old).
Primary evaluation basis:
Selection is based exclusively on the Abstract Review Form.
Key evaluation aspects:
- Relevance of the topic to the conference
- Clearly defined research aims and objectives
- Overall scientific quality and coherence
- Potential to stimulate scientific discussion
Additional considerations:
In cases of similar abstract scores, the Scientific Committee may consider:
- Scientific merit relative to the applicant’s career stage
- The contribution of the award to the student’s training and professional development
- Balance across research areas represented at the conference
1 YOUNG INVESTGATOR DNSG
AWARDS (€750 EACH)
Eligibility: PhD students or Junior Post-Docs (< 40 years old).
Primary evaluation basis:
This award is granted strictly on the basis of the Abstract Review Form.
Key evaluation aspects:
- Relevance of the research topic
- Clearly defined aims and tasks
- Innovation of the rationale and/or hypothesis
- Appropriateness, robustness, or originality of the methodology
- Soundness of results and conclusions (if applicable)
Additional considerations:
When abstracts receive comparable scores, the Committee may additionally consider:
- Overall originality of the scientific approach
- Potential scientific impact within the field
- Independence and maturity of the research idea
SCIENCE & RHYTHM BEST INTERPRETATION
The following awards are linked to the Science & Rhythm evening event, held after the Day 1 Conference Dinner at DNSG 2026.
2 SCIENCE & RHYTM BEST COMMUNICATION
AWARDS (€300 EACH)
Awarded for: The most engaging and effective scientific communication during the event.
Primary evaluation criteria:
- Clarity and structure of the scientific message
- Ability to communicate complex ideas within a 5-minute format
- Originality and relevance of the topic
- Engagement and interaction with the audience
Additional considerations:
The jury may also take into account:
- Confidence and delivery style
- Effective use of storytelling or visual elements
- Balance between scientific accuracy and accessibility
1 SCIENCE & RHYTHM BEST INTERPRETATION
AWARDS (€300 EACH)
Awarded for: The most creative and entertaining musical interpretation.
Primary evaluation criteria:
- Creativity and originality of the performance
- Expressiveness and interpretation of the selected song
- Audience engagement and entertainment value
Additional considerations:
The jury may also consider:
- Willingness to step outside the comfort zone
- Spontaneity and improvisation
- Overall stage presence and enthusiasm