The Gregory Bateson Book Prize is awarded each year by the Society for Cultural Anthropology (SCA), one of the largest sections of the American Anthropological Association. Named after distinguished anthropologist, semiotician, cyberneticist, and photographer Gregory Bateson, the award reflects the SCA’s mandate to promote theoretically rich, ethnographically grounded research that engages the most current thinking across the arts and sciences. Welcoming a wide range of styles and argument, the Bateson Prize looks to single out work that is interdisciplinary, experimental, and innovative. The prize is awarded at the annual meeting of the American Anthropological Association and carries an honorarium of $500.

Presses (rather than individuals) should nominate books. The SCA asks any presses wishing to submit books to select those they see as most relevant for consideration. A list of past winners can be found on the Prizes page of the SCA website. Regardless of when they were released, only books copyrighted in 2023 are eligible. Edited volumes will not be considered.

The deadline for receipt of book submissions is May 31st, 2024. For more information on how to submit an entry, please contact Bateson Prize Chair Miriam Ticktin, [email protected].