The Internet Society invites applications for the Internet Hall of Fame Award in the USA in 2023.
The Internet Society believes in a world where the Internet means opportunity. However, nearly 49 percent of the world, on every continent, in rural, remote, and even urban communities, goes each day without Internet access a day. This is indeed a lost opportunity.
Closing the digital divide demands passionate people and creative solutions. Through its global community, it empowers and supports people to bring the Internet to everyone. It works to reduce barriers to access and make it faster and cheaper. This way, it doesn’t just build and maintain connections—it advocates for the right policies so that the Internet can grow.
Worth of Award
The Internet Hall of Fame recognizes a select group of visionaries, leaders, and luminaries who have made significant contributions to the development and advancement of the Internet.
Eligibility
In addition to those who have been more visible, the Internet Hall of Fame seeks nominees who have made crucial, behind-the-scenes contributions.
Qualified nominations must satisfy the following criteria: The Nominee’s
- work has made an extraordinary impact on the development or growth of the Internet. It was and may still be directly relevant to the Internet’s ongoing advancement and evolution.
- contribution to the Internet has had a positive influence on: 1) society at large; 2) the work of others in the field; 3) the next generation; and/or 4) another important group.
- contribution has significantly expanded the Internet’s reach to bridge the digital divide and enrich people’s lives with global impact or within key audiences or specific geographies.
- has taken risks and has broken new ground with original thinking/creativity that has established new paradigms, eliminated significant obstacles, or accelerated Internet advancements.
Similarly,
- Special consideration may also be given to the Nominee’s lifelong Internet-related accomplishments. This includes contributions to more than one area of the Internet, and the overall benefit of their contributions to society.
- A successful nomination will clearly define a candidate’s impact beyond participation solely in a limited arena, such as Internet governance, or academia, or politics, as examples.
- Individuals previously nominated must be re-nominated to be considered, and individuals cannot nominate or endorse themselves.
How to Apply
- The nomination requires three (3) endorsement letters from three independent endorsers, in addition to the nomination form.
- The nominator must provide the email addresses of the individuals who are to submit the endorsement letters.
- When nominating a single team member, the package (nomination, recommendations and supporting materials) must show what the nominee specifically contributed to the team effort.
- Typical proofs include recommendations from other team members, a paper trail of publications, recommendations from outsiders intimately familiar with the team, or the like.
Deadline: The deadline for completed nominations for the Internet Hall of Fame Award is 23:59 UTC on March 24, 2023.