Nomination deadline: November 1

This award was endowed by the Surampalli Family Trust, friends and colleagues of Rao Y. Surampalli, Ph.D., P.E., BCEE, D.WRE, NAC, Dist.M.ASCE, a pioneer in the fields of environmental engineering research, innovation and sustainability. The award advances the profession by recognizing published papers that make definitive contributions to the field of climate change engineering/science, impacts and solutions. The award was officially instituted by action of the Board of Direction on March 16, 2026.

Rules

The award is made in accordance with the policies of the Society and the following specific rules:

  1. The award is made annually for a published paper in recognition of outstanding research contributions to the broad field of climate change engineering/science, impacts and solutions.
  2. All papers published in an ASCE Journal and expressing a clear scientific or engineering impact - innovative, technical and/or conceptual – on climate change engineering/science, impacts and solutions are eligible.
  3. The paper is eligible for consideration when it appears in an online ASCE journal between July and June of the year preceding the year of award.
  4. Membership in the Society or nationality is not a consideration for this award. 
  5. The award recipient is selected by an award committee composed of two members of the Committee on Sustainability, two members of the Committee on Adaptation to the Changing Climate, and one member of the Committee on Technical Advancement. Committee members shall serve two-year overlapping terms. The chair of the Award Selection Committee shall alternate annually between the Committee on Sustainability and the Committee on Adaptation to the Changing Climate, whichever is the longer serving. Nominations are submitted for Society approval by the ASCE Executive Committee through the executive committees of both committees.
  6. The lead author shall receive a bronze medal, suitably inscribed with the name of the recipient and the year of award, and an honorarium determined annually by and subject to the approval of the Executive Committee of the ASCE Board of Direction based on the income from the award endowment. Co-authors shall receive only a certificate.
  7. The award shall be presented at an appropriate Society event. 

Nominations

To nominate, submit the following via the nomination form:

  • A cover letter, signed by the nominator
  • One copy of the paper as it appears online

For questions, or concerns regarding the nomination process, please reach out to Awards & Honors at [email protected].

Submit nomination