Now in its fourth year, our award, sponsored by PA EDitorial, celebrates significant initiatives, projects or collaborations within scholarly communication and academic research that are making a positive difference. The impact can be on society, attitudes, education, equality, diversity, inclusion, the environment or any area making a significant difference to people. It can be within scholarly publishing or the wider community but still within the broad area of academic scholarly research and study.
The Judging Process
The awards panel will review all submissions and draw up a shortlist. The shortlist will be confirmed in June and the finalists will be asked to give a 15-minute virtual presentation to the judges in July. ALPSP may publish a list of submissions and the statements of innovation and impact. All other information within the applications will be treated in strictest confidence.
The Judging Panel
Alexandra Winzeler, Digital Science
Alice Meadows, Independent Consultant
Athena Hoeppner, University of Central Florida
David Smith, Publishing Technology Consultant
David Sommer (Chair), Kudos
Emma Vodden, British Editorial Society of Bone and Joint Surgery
Jill Emery, Portland State University
Louise Russell, Tutton Russell Consulting
Maggie Simmons, Geological Society
Richard Gedye, Scholarly and Professional Publishing Consultant
Steve Sharp, Sheffield Hallam University
How to Apply
Please select which award you wish to apply for. Do not submit the same product or initiative for both awards. To apply please email Susie Brown.
In order for the panel to make a reasoned assessment, each application must include detail on the background, business model, resources, development, operation of the product or service and how you are measuring its success or impact.
Please preface your application with a summary Statement of Impact (maximum 100 words) outlining the key features of the product or service and demonstrate its value to the industry.
Supporting information should include detail on the following:
- What are the main features of the initiative, project, campaign or collaboration?
- What was the background and research behind its development or launch?
- What resources went into its creation?
- What makes it significant?
- What value does it offer, how is this measured?
- What impact has it has, or do you expect it to have?
- What are the next steps further expansion?
Please be sure to include the following in your application:
- Name of initiative, project, campaign or collaboration
- Publisher, collaborating organisations or owners
- Launch date
- Website
- If a username and password is required to access the content, please supply details with your application.
- Full contact details of person submitting the application
Please find an example of a best practice submission layout here.
There is no word limit for your application, but we suggest a minimum of 500 words and maximum of 2000 words. Where it helps tell the story, you can include images, graphs or diagrams. Please aim to be concise and provide the key information necessary for the panel to judge it rather than providing unnecessary additional background material – less is more! If your application is shortlisted, you will be invited to give a more detailed virtual presentation to the judges on either Tuesday 8 or Wednesday 9 July.
Please note that if you do not provide sufficient information, the panel will not be able to give due consideration to the application. If the publication, product or service is produced on behalf of another organization, the owner’s written permission for the submission to be made is required.
For further information please contact Susie Brown
Conditions of Entry
- The Association of Learned and Professional Society Publishers (ALPSP) reserves the right to make no Award if there are insufficient high quality applications.
- Applications must be made in accordance with the instructions under ‘How to apply’.
- The closing date for receipt of entries is 30 April 2026.
- ALPSP may publish a list of submissions and the statements of innovation or impact. All other information within the applications will be treated in strictest confidence.
- The judges will consider all the applications and draw up a shortlist. Representatives of the shortlisted applications will be invited to give a 15-minute virtual presentation to the Judges on 7 or 8 July.
- Each finalist will be invited to give a 5 minute presentation to showcase their application at the ALPSP Conference.
- There are no geographical restrictions on entries.
- If the publication or service is produced on behalf of another organization, the consent of the publication’s owner or service provider is required.
- Award Winners will receive a trophy and certificate. No cash alternative can be substituted for the prize.
- There are no restrictions on number of entries.
- Criteria for judging entries are as detailed above.
- Entries will not be returned.
- Winners of the Awards will be announced at the ALPSP Conference on 10 September 2026.
ALPSP Impact Award Winner 2025
Frontiers for Young Minds
“Science for kids, edited by kids!”
Frontiers for Young Minds don’t just publish top-quality science that everyone can read – they go further. By engaging kids aged 8-15 directly in our peer review process, with science experts appointed to guide and coach them, they foster curiosity, both in and out of the classroom, and create the next generation of scientists.
Industry value goes beyond open access: they bring intellectual access, creating science literacy and building lifelong trust in scholarly communication. Frontiers for Young Minds believe the “man in the street” – the kid in the street – must understand today’s research, to change the world tomorrow.
Highly Commended
Atom Grants
Atom bridges a critical gap between researchers and funders by using AI to translate researcher language into funder logic. This improves access to funding, particularly for early-career researchers, underrepresented groups, and smaller institutions that lack robust research support infrastructure. It also empowers administrators to manage complex portfolios more effectively. Atom is the first solution to combine semantic understanding, automation, and engagement into a single platform tailored to academic grants.