World Association of Young Scientists

I think that awards should start to recognize that research is a collaborative endeavour and not always single out individuals. At the Early Career Stage that this award targets, it is practically impossible to differentiate between the top 10% (or so) of candidates -- what criteria would you use when the only simple metrics available are at the level of journals and articles and most of the few pieces published in there have been the work of many, including the candidate? Web-native metrics like karma systems (e.g. based on blog posts about science and research, or on rated edits in scientific wikis) could be a better differentiator at this stage (and helpful at later ones too). I also do not see why two upper age limits are necessary (32 years and PhD+5) but anyway, there are way too few science prizes at this stage, so here is Euroscience's call for candidates.