The aim of this prize is to promote the use of System Dynamics to address real and significant problems of public interest, and to raise awareness of System Dynamics by publicising examples of such good work.

The prize is for the best piece of work that applies System Dynamics to a problem of wide public interest in the UK. The work should demonstrably improve understanding of the problem by, for example, clarifying the definition of what is at issue and allowing candidate solutions to be formulated and tested.

The work and any resulting model should, so far as is reasonabely possible, be grounded in empirical data and evidence.

It should also be substantially new work, not the result of applying an existing model, and have been carried out in the last two years (i.e. September 2007).

The prize is open to anyone living or working in the UK.

Candidates should submit a short report describing the problem, the nature of the current debate, how the issue was formulated using SD, the conclusions that could be drawn from the work, and how the use of System Dynamics advances or changes the debate.

Wherever possible a working simulation model should also be submitted, in one of the standard simulation languages (Vensim, Powersim, Ithink).

Each piece of work submitted will be judged on its own merits, but evidence that the work has influenced the public debate is especially welcome. This might range from letters or articles in the press through real-world decisions and actions.

• The prize for the winning entry is £500.

Entries should be submitted to SDcomp@sdgworld.net by e-mail. The closing date is 19th January 2009. The winners will be chosen by the Policy Council Committee of the UK Chapter of the System Dynamics Society and announced at the next annual meeting on 12-13th February 2009.

At the discretion of the Policy Committee, press notices may be issued describing the winning submissions.