***** To join INSNA, visit http://www.insna.org ***** Media Contact: Steve Borgatti Associate Professor of Organizational Studies Carroll School of Management Boston College [log in to unmask] (978) 394 2787 The International Network for Social Network Analysis Announces Visible Path Graduate Student Award Award recognizes research on how social networks improve professional performance. REDONDO BEACH, CA – February 16, 2005 – The International Network for Social Network Analysis (INSNA) announced a newly-created Visible Path Graduate Student Award at the Sunbelt XXV International Social Network Conference here today. INSNA will give the annual award, which carries a $5,000 prize plus paid expenses to the Sunbelt conference, to a graduate student in recognition of research on how social networks are used to improve individual and inter-organizational performance. “Social network analysis touches many disciplines -- anthropology, sociology, psychology, political science, economics, medicine, urban planning and communications science for starters – yet there are few awards that support basic social network research,” said Bill Richards, INSNA president and professor of communications at Simon Fraser University. “This award seeks to encourage research for benefit of everyone who is interested in the juncture of social network analysis and organizational performance.” The award stems from a widening interest in social network analysis sparked by articles, popular books and new companies selling web services and software that capitalize on social networks. “The timing is right for graduate students looking to discover new insights on social network that can advance an increasingly popular discipline with growing opportunities for application” said Stanley Wasserman, professor of sociology, psychology, and statistics at Indiana University and chief scientist for Visible Path Corp. in New York.” To apply for this year’s award, students submit a paper to INSNA’s Visible Path Graduate Student Award Committee before 1 September 2005. Submitted papers will be evaluated by a committee of four judges; their decision will be final. Judging will be on the basis of the level of originality in the ideas and techniques, the possible applications and their treatment, and potential impact. The awardee will give a formal presentation at the Sunbelt 2006 conference in Vancouver. The paper must be written between September 1, 2004 and August 31, 2005. Eligible students must be first (or sole) author on the submitted paper. Letters of support should be submitted as well. The committee may arrive at the conclusion that none of the submitted papers merits the award. The award will made for the first time in 2006. Funds for the award are provided by Visible Path. Address for submission (electronic submissions (.pdf files) required): Professor Ronald Burt Chair, Visible Path Graduate Student Award Committee Graduate School of Business University of Chicago 5807 South Woodlawn Avenue Chicago, Illinois 60637 [log in to unmask] About INSNA INSNA is the professional association for researchers interested in social network analysis. The association is a non-profit organization incorporated in the state of Delaware with members from Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Hong Kong, Hungary, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Korea, Mexico, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Russia, Singapore, Slovenia, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, UK and USA. Barry Wellman founded INSNA in 1978; the current president is Bill Richards. About Visible Path Visible Path transforms the way large companies leverage relationship capital to drive top-line revenue growth. The Visible Path platform applies the science of social network analysis to allow professionals to access the entire enterprise's trusted relationship network without invading privacy or compromising relationships. The platform integrates tightly with corporate applications to measurably accelerate sales cycles, increase close rates, and reduce the cost of lead generation and customer acquisition. Visible Path, founded in 2002, is a privately-held company with investment from Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers. _____________________________________________________________________ SOCNET is a service of INSNA, the professional association for social network researchers (http://www.insna.org). To unsubscribe, send an email message to [log in to unmask] containing the line UNSUBSCRIBE SOCNET in the body of the message.