The Sigel Award is given to junior scholar authors of the best papers presented at annual scientific meetings. Nominees must be current ISPP members.

ISPP first announced this award at its Vancouver meeting in 1996. Professor Sigel, whom the award honors, has been a distinguished professor of political science at Rutgers University since 1973. She is author and editor of seven books and many articles and book chapters, mostly in the areas of political socialization and democratic citizenship. She has had many leadership roles in the American Political Science Association and has served as program chair, Vice-President and President of ISPP.

All ISPP Junior Scholars who are current dues paid members of ISPP and had their paper accepted for the most recent summer meeting/ conference are eligible to be considered for the award to be presented during the next year's meeting. Junior Scholars are all students (graduate or undergraduate) and faculty who received their Ph.D. within the last eight years.

There are two prizes with slightly different criteria to accommodate the authorship and publication practices in the various disciplines represented in ISPP:

• The first award will be given to the best paper written by Junior Scholars only. In the case of multiple authors, all co-authors must be Junior Scholars.
• The second award will be conferred to the best paper with a Junior Scholar first author. This award allows, but does not require, non-Junior Scholar co-authors.

The 2009 award recipient will be strongly encouraged to attend the 2009 Annual Meeting and Award's Banquet in Dublin, Ireland.

Roberta Sigel's death (October 25, 2008) mourned.