Deadline: 31 July 2019

Nominations are open for the third annual MIT Media Lab Disobedience Award to recognize individuals and groups who engage in responsible, ethical disobedience aimed at challenging norms, rules, or laws that sustain society’s injustices.

This award will go to a person or group engaged in what we believe is an extraordinary example of disobedience for the benefit of society. Award winner(s) will be announced in November, 2019.

The award is open to people and groups working in any discipline, including, but not limited to, scientific research, civil rights, freedom of speech, human rights, and the freedom to innovate. By rewarding thoughtful, nonviolent acts of disobedience, they hope to raise the public profile of these activities and ultimately inspire new agents of change.

Key Principles

They honor work that positively impacts society, and is consistent with a set of key principles, including:

• nonviolence
• creativity
• courage
• personal responsibility

Cash Prize

If a group of people or an organization is awarded the prize, they will receive one $250,000 check to distribute at their own discretion.

Eligibility Criteria

• Recipient must be living at the time of nomination.
• If an organization, they must be currently operational at the time of nomination.
• Individuals, groups, or organizations cannot nominate themselves.
• Recipient must have taken personal risk in order to effect positive change.
• This award is open to any person or group in the world as long as they follow the principles of nonviolent disobedience to impact society in positive ways. All disciplines are eligible.

Selection Process

They have gathered a diverse selection committee from the MIT Media Lab network—activists, scientists, designers, artists, and engineers—to review the nominations and select the award recipient(s).

How to Apply

Applicant must fill out the online nomination form given on the website.

For more information, please visit https://www.media.mit.edu/groups/disobedience-award/overview/