SINGAPORE—The International Rubber Study Group has launched #IRSGforResearch, an annual award designed to stimulate high-quality research on emerging economic issues in the global rubber sector.
#IRSGforResearch is an effort to engage young economists and researchers in the assessment of economic factors that affect the global rubber sector, the IRSG said in a July 15 news release. Submitted papers should cover a topic relevant to the broad sustainability framework and sustainable development of the rubber sector, and while authors are free to choose their own topics, the IRSG will give preference to papers that address the thematic focus it chooses every year.
For 2019, the thematic focus is, "How can rubber smallholders achieve sustainable development through rubber farming?"
Winner of the #IRSGforResearch award will receive approximately $2,200 and an award certificate.
"The smallholders are at the very core of the rubber industry, and yet we are lacking innovative and practical solutions to alleviate their hardship, especially during low rubber prices," Sandana Dass, CEO of natural rubber value chain company R1International, said in a statement.
The #IRSGforResearch award is open to all economists and researchers in social sciences who are completing their doctorates or have done so in the past five years, the IRSG said.
All papers should be in English and should not exceed 15,000 words, the group said. Dec. 13 is the deadline to submit papers to [email protected]. The winner will be announced March 2.