The Social Accomplishment award is made to persons with an extensive record of outstanding activities aimed at the social benefit of people with epilepsy and is awarded every two years, usually to one individual, at the time of the IBE/ILAE International Epilepsy Congress.

The criteria for nomination of a candidate are that the candidate should be known to have a longstanding record of activities promoting improvement in the social circumstances of people with epilepsy. Alternatively, they should have taken one single action, which has resulted in a major breakthrough in improving social conditions for people with epilepsy. Possible fields of activity may be:

• organisational activities (such as legislation);
• information through either audio-visual or written materials.

Nominating Procedure

1. An invitation for nominations will be distributed to all chapters and to the members of the Joint Executive Committee of IBE and ILAE 6 months prior to election.
2. Each chapter and each member of the Joint Executive Committee can nominate one candidate for election.
3. A letter describing the relevant activities of the nominee and setting out the reasons why these activities should be considered for the Award, together with a curriculum vitae of the nominee must sent to the IBE Office 3 months prior to the date of election.
4. Nominees from the previous election who did not receive the Award will automatically be considered a nominee in one following election.

The Joint Executive Committee of IBE and ILAE will select one person, although an exception can be made if more than one person has been actively involved in the same project. In order to be selsected the candidate must receive an absolute majority of the votes. The decision of the Joint Executive Committee is final.

The most recent recipient of the Social Accomplishment Award is Dr John Kirker from Ireland, who was presented with the award at the 26th International Epilepsy Congress in Singapore, in July 2007.

Social Accomplishment Award Recipients:

2007 Dr John G Kirker, Ireland
2005 Mrs Hanneke de Boer, The Netherlands
2003 Dr Chi-Wan Lai, Taiwan
2001 Dr C.C. Park, Korea
1999 Dr J.K. Austin, U.S.A.
1997 Dr K.S. Mani, India
1995 Mr T. Coelho and Ms. E. Savage, U.S.A.
1993 Mrs P.A. Gibson, U.S.A.
1991 Mrs C. Pickering, Kenya
1989 Dr R.L. Masland, U.S.A.
1987 Mrs N. Hernandez, U.S.A
1985 Dr A. Arcaya, Chile
1983 Mrs E. Grass, U.S.A.
1982 Dr G. van Wessem, Italy
1981 Mr L.H. Brulleman, Netherlands
1980 Mr G.Burden, England