CDCS Digital Research Prizes

We are delighted to invite nominations for the CDCS Digital Research Prizes 2026!

The CDCS Digital Research Prizes are designed to recognise the excellent data-led projects and activities going on across CAHSS. We're looking for examples of digital research that shows creativity, excellence and impact and which models best practice in the use and sharing of data. The winner of each of our five prize categories will be awarded £250 towards research costs. Winners will be announced at the prize ceremony which will be held in May 2026.

Deadline for nominations EXTENDED: March 30th 2026

Nominate now

Prize categories

Best Data Visualisation

Effectiveness of communication, creativity and innovation, design and aesthetics.

Best Small Data-Driven Project

Clarity and significance of research question, aptness of methodological approach, creativity and innovation.

Best Dataset

Quality of data, clarity of documentation, adherence to FAIR principles, significance of contribution.

Best Impact from a Data-Led Project

Breadth of influence, significance of change generated by project.

Best Novel Use of a Digital Method

Methodological innovation within a discipline, appropriateness of method selected, significance of contribution.

Find out about last year's results

Further Details

CAHSS researchers at all career stages (including students), and across all the schools, are eligible to apply, and we welcome self-nominations.

Nominations must be for projects/publications/resources that were completed/published/launched between September 2024 and March 2026.

Researchers are welcome to nominate multiple projects, but each project can be entered in only one category.

To nominate, you must provide a rationale of approx. 500 words outlining how the nominated work addresses the relevant assessment criteria. You must also provide links pointing to the resources/visualisations/publications.

The nominations will be reviewed by a panel comprising our Research Affiliates and members of the CDCS core team.

Timetable:

Nominations open: 19th January 2026
Nominations close: ~~20th March~~ 30th March 2026
Judging: March - April
Awards ceremony: 19th May 2026