The 2024 Vittorio Bertocci Award is now open and accepting applications from April 9th to May 22nd.
About this award
This award is designed especially to promote the development of the next generation of standards contributors, but also recognizes and supports the contributions of outstanding professionals who are deeply committed to the community and currently fund their participation independently.
The Award will have two “tracks.”
- Track 1: The goal of this track introduce students and newer professionals to technical standards development. If you are a student interested in digital identity and cybersecurity, Track 1 is for you. If you are an identity practitioner with less than 3 years experience and are interested in learning about identity standards, this is your track!
- Track2: The goal of this track is facilitate people with more experience continuing work in and related to technical standards. If you are a Masters and Ph.D. candidate in digital identity, cybersecurity, or computer science with active work related to identity standards, Track 2 is for you. This track is also appropriate for you, If you are an identity practitioners with 3+ years of experience working in identity standards development and deployment.
What does the Vittorio Bertocci Award Provide?
For Track 1 awardees:
- DIAF will provide up to $2,500 for airfare, hotel, and daily stipend to attend the Internet Identity Workshop (IIW) Fall 2024 event, which runs October 29 to 31 in Mountain View, California. DIAF will also provide a ticket to attend IIW.
For Track 2 awardees:
- DIAF will provide up to $4,500 for an awardee-designed award plan, which DIAF must approve in advance. The plan of study can be applied towards membership dues and events (registration fees, airfare, hotel, and daily meals) for recognized technical standards bodies from May 24 2024 – May 24 2025. One of several examples of a recognized technical standards body is the Internet Engineering Taskforce (IETF). Awardees can create an award plan that includes multiple events or organizations up to the $4,500 limit.
What are awardee responsibilities?
We want the awardee experience to be as helpful and enjoyable as possible, so we try to keep it simple. However, there are a few responsibilities for awardees:
- Awardees must submit a brief blog to DIAF reflecting on their experience at the event, which we will publish to our website. We’ll usually ask you to share this within 30 days of your return from the event.
- Awardees must accept their award and provide necessary information for travel and reimbursement as provided by DIAF. Failure to meet these deadlines may result in the award being rescinded and offered to a runner-up.
- As part of your application, we’ll ask you to submit a photo and brief bio. Awardees must consent to our use of their provided image and biography on our website and social media so we can share award announcements and other content.
Eligibility
Identity professionals with all levels of experience are encouraged to apply – including those just getting started on their journeys. We’re happy to accept applications from current students and interns in programs of relevant fields, too. Please ensure that you have approval from your employer or school to travel before applying, if required. Prior awardees and applicants are welcome to apply again.
We believe that digital identity can only work for everyone when it’s built by everyone. We encourage people of all cultural, racial, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, veteran status, nationality, and religious backgrounds to apply.
Deadlines for the 2024 Vittorio Bertocci Award
- April 9 – Call for Applications Opens
- May 22 – Call for Applications Closes
- TBD – Awardees Notified
- TBD – Awardee Confirmation of Acceptance Due
- TBD – Travel Plan Due