The CIRES Outstanding Performance Awards (OPAs) recognize projects or activities that are novel, high-impact, and show remarkable creativity or resourcefulness. In collaboration with the CIRES Members’ Council (CMC), the OPAs are peer-nominated and reviewed; winners are announced during the annual Rendezvous meeting held in May.

Science and Engineering

In the Science and Engineering category, this may involve any work that is related to the scientific process (forming and testing hypotheses to further our understanding of the environmental sciences). Examples include:

• Development of new scientific, engineering, and/or software tools or models directly resulting in novel research valuable to CIRES and the wider scientific community
• Uncommon initiative, resourcefulness, and/or scientific creativity conducting research with potential to expand or change the direction of a particular field or discipline
• Participation in collaborative and/or multidisciplinary research that engages a broader cross-section than the nominee’s typical scientific or engineering community

Projects in the Science and Engineering category are often associated with published or forthcoming results in the peer-reviewed literature. Please include in the application any relevant scientific references or press coverage the work received.

Science Service

In the Science Service category, recognized work may involve any that facilitates, supports, enhances, or promotes work in the environmental sciences, such as:

• Implementation of a creative or innovative idea, device, process, or system that aids in research, teaching, or outreach at CIRES
• Development or improvement of a service that increases the efficiency, quality, or visibility of scientific research or outreach
• Provision of a service that promotes or inspires excellence and dedication to research performed at CIRES or in the wider community

Projects in the Science Service category are successful because of the utility they have within the community. Please include any letters of support or supplemental material that may aid the committee in appreciating the value of the service provided.

Administrative Service

In the Administrative Service category, this may involve any work that facilitates, supports, or promotes CIRES work and operations, such as:

• Exceptional improvements to operational, technical, or business processes that support research, teaching, outreach, or CIRES performance overall
• Development or improvement of a service that increases the effectiveness or efficiency of CIRES work and operations
• Initiatives that advance CIRES operations while demonstrating evidence of substantial positive impacts to the CIRES community and beyond 

An Administrative Service award nominee does not have to be in CIRES administration, so long as the work being recognized is administrative. For instance, nominees might be measurement staff at the Global Monitoring Laboratory (GML) who maintain and improve lab operations and design non-scientific software to help with analysis workflows.

Examples of Administrative Services may be associated with these departments: Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI), Finance, Human Resources, Travel, Operations, Laboratory and Building Maintenance, Information Technology, and Message Centers.

Projects in the Administrative Service category often significantly impact the CIRES community. Nominees show perseverance, loyalty, and commitment to CIRES and its mission by overcoming obstacles in achieving success.

Please include in the nomination examples of such qualities, letters of support, or supplemental material that may aid the committee in appreciating the value of the administrative service(s) provided.

At the time of the nomination deadline, nominees (except students) must be active CIRES employees for both individual and team awards. To receive an OPA award, the nominee must also still be a CIRES employee at the time of the CIRES Rendezvous.

We have many outstanding members in CIRES: Let's honor them! Nominations should be submitted via the InsideCIRES website, which also provides more information on eligibility and award criteria.