The Carob Trust Prize for Academic Courage
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Celebrating the Pursuit of Knowledge
Mission
The Carob Trust Prize honors academics who pursue bold ideas that challenge prevailing orthodoxies—whether political, intellectual, or methodological—and hold the potential to reshape knowledge, policy, or society. The Prize supports scholars whose work is original, rigorous, impactful, and courageous—even when it is unpopular.
Award
Value:
$1,000,000 awarded over five years
Structure:
Flexible, largely unrestricted support
Recognition:
Annual Carob Trust Prize Dinner and international announcement
Selection Criteria
Intellectual Independence
A proven commitment to following logic and evidence wherever they lead, regardless of academic or political pressure.
Non-Conformist Ideas
Originality and boldness of research agenda. Willingness to ask questions that others avoid—whether uncomfortable, underfunded, or unfashionable.
Impact and Vindication
Work of excellent quality that has shifted academic debate, public discourse, or policy. Evidence that ideas criticized at the time have proven—through data, replication, or influence—to possess enduring value.
Process
The Carob Trust Prize for Academic Courage will take a nominee’s life’s work into account. Scholars who are earlier in their careers might be considered for a smaller prize.
Nominations for the Prize can be submitted through the Nomination Portal, linked below. Nominators will be asked for short statements on candidates’ fitness as outlined by the selection criteria. Nominators may submit multiple candidates for consideration. Candidates may not nominate themselves.
The scope of the academic work considered for the inaugural 2027 Prize will be limited to the social sciences. The Committee will seek external experts as needed to properly evaluate submissions.
Only living nominees will be considered. Candidates must be citizens or legal residents of the United States.
Timeline
Nov. 1, 2026:
Nominations due
Spring 2027:
Announcement of Prize winners
Spirit of the Prize
Breakthroughs often begin as unpopular ideas. By honoring those who show independence, courage, and resilience, The Carob Trust Prize ensures that today’s controversial insights have the chance to become tomorrow’s common sense.
Inaugural Prize Selection Committee
Professor of Economics, Harvard University (Chair)
Professor of Political Science, Stanford University
James Coleman Professor of Sociology & Social Policy, Johns Hopkins University
Chancellor, Vanderbilt University
Merton P. Stoltz Professor of the Social Sciences, Emeritus, Brown University
Adams University Professor and Professor of Economics and Mathematics, Harvard University
Professor of Government and Policy, Johns Hopkins University
Leonore Annenberg University Professor in Democracy and Citizenship, University of Pennsylvania
Nominations
To nominate a candidate for consideration, please use the nomination portal below: