The Sidney Prize

The Sidney Prize is awarded annually to the leading undergraduate majoring in Politics and History in second year. It is funded by the generous bequest of Mrs. Emilie Ann Consett Stephenson. It aims to reward an essay that addresses a nominated question or subject. The essay is judged for its originality (specifically, its ability to shed new light on the subject) and its academic merit.

The first of this year’s Sidney prizes, named for philosopher Sidney Hook, is to Helen Andrews for her piece “Shame Storm” in First Things. It’s a powerful description of the way viciousness is amplified by the Internet, especially when it is televised on C-Span2.

It’s become fashionable to bash Malcolm Gladwell, but I’ll give him the third Sidney prize for “Offensive Play,” in The New Yorker, which is an extraordinary essay about the lingering effects of football violence. It’s worth reading in its entirety — even though it may give you nightmares.

To win the Sidney Prize, you must be a student enrolled in either an LLB or JD program at Sydney Law School at the time of submission and during the previous six months. You must submit an essay on a topic related to social justice written for a Law unit.

Winners will be notified by email in August 2024. Two runners-up will each be awarded $500 and a 12-month digital subscription to The Sydney Morning Herald.

For the best essays that show a deep understanding of Sydney or NSW and explain why it matters to the world, enter our prize! The winner will receive $1,000 and spend a day in our newsroom.

This prize is supported by the generosity of the family of Sir Sidney and Lady Mary Mackay. The purpose of this scholarship is to assist a student to undertake study at the University of Sydney and to encourage the development of the highest standard of intellectual and academic achievement. The scholarship is valued at $40,000 per annum.

To be considered for this award, applicants must demonstrate financial need and provide a personal statement outlining their career plans. This statement should be no more than 250 words and include the name and contact details of their referees.

The Society for the History of Technology’s Sidney Edelstein Book Prize is one of the most prestigious awards in the field. Professor Edward Jones-Imhotep of the Department of History at York University has won the award for his book, The Unreliable Nation: Natural Disaster and Technological Failure in the Cold War. He joins a very distinguished list of past winners that includes a member of the NYU community, an honor well deserved for his work on an important area of historical inquiry. To learn more, see the official announcement from the Society for the History of Technology.