Isabel André Award for PhD theses in Gender and Geography

The Isabel André Award aims to distinguish doctoral theses in the areas of Geography, Regional Development, and Spatial Planning that develop, in a critical and original way, an in-depth reflection on gender in geographical thinking or that integrate a gender perspective in Spatial Planning.

The Award is a tribute to Isabel André, a pioneer in gender studies in Geography in Portugal. She was the first woman to obtain a PhD degree in the country with a thesis in Gender Geography. Her doctoral thesis, entitled ‘The false neutral in Human Geography: gender and patriarchal relationships in employment and domestic work’, paved the way for this field of research in Portugal. The Prize for Research on Gender in Geography continues the efforts initiated by Isabel André, in promoting critical reflection on gender in Geography and gender equality as a fundamental value.

Authors of any nationality may apply for the prize, provided their thesis:

• was defended in the 24 months prior to the date of application;
• is written in Portuguese, Spanish, English, or French; and
• includes the analysis of a lusophone area.

The Award provides public recognition of the relevance of the work developed and will be granted in one of the following modalities:

• If the winner resides outside Portugal, they will be invited to present their thesis at a conference at IGOT, University of Lisbon, costs will be covered for travel, accommodation and subsistence;
• If the winner resides in Portugal and is part of CEG, costs will be covered for participation (travel, registration, accommodation) in an international conference (up to 2000 euros);
• As an alternative to the previous modalities, the winner may choose to publish their thesis in the CEG collection.

The submission period is open until 30th September 2023

Submit your full application here: https://forms.gle/X1pNWdFMc4VnQuiM6

The application should include the following:

• The completed submission form;
• A digital version of your PhD thesis;
• A digital version of your CV;
• A copy of your PhD certificate;
• Two support letters, written by academics highlighting the contribution of the thesis to geography and gender and its innovative aspects;
• A letter written by you on the importance of a gender perspective in your research and intellectual trajectory.

More information here.

The 2023 jury is presided by Jennifer McGarrigle, and is comprised by the following specialists:

• Mireia Baylina Ferré, Professora Associada no Departamento de Geografia, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Espanha
• Márcio José Ornat, Professor Associado no Departamento de Geociências, Universidade Estadual de Ponta Grossa, Brazil
• Margarida Queirós, Professora Associada do Instituto de Geografia e Ordenamento do Território, Universidade de Lisboa
• Jorge Malheiros, Professor Associado do Instituto de Geografia e Ordenamento do Território, Universidade de Lisboa

The Isabel André Award is an initiative of the Centre for Geographical Studies of the University of Lisbon, in the ambit of the institution’s commitment to gender equality, outlined in the IGOT Gender Equality Plan and in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations.

The prize of the first edition (2021) was awarded to Larissa Araújo Coutinho de Paula, geographer, educator and PhD in geography from the Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP), for her thesis entitled “A Bela Flor do/no Campo: for a Geography of Gender and r(existence) in rural settlements in the interior of São Paulo”.