The International Transactional Analysis Association (ITAA) is officially accepting nominations for the 2027 Eric Berne Memorial Award (EBMA). Members of the transactional analysis (TA) community are encouraged to submit their proposals to the award committee on or before Dec. 1, 2026.

The EBMA is designed to recognize authors who have made a major contribution to the field. Unlike lifetime achievement honors, this award highlights a specific, highly original and innovative published concept or idea that constitutes a significant theoretical and practical advance, rather than an author’s entire body of work.

Eligibility and submission requirements

To be eligible for consideration, the nominated contribution must have been published in a professional journal, book or other formal publication. Unpublished doctoral dissertations are not eligible. Additionally, the work must meet a specific eligibility window: It must have been published by Dec. 31 of the third year prior to the submission deadline, allowing sufficient time for the concept to demonstrate a tangible impact on the TA community.

Nominations can be submitted by individuals, groups or organizations. Each submission must include the nominee's name, the full publication citation, a brief descriptive title and copies of the publication. Up to three articles or chapters may be submitted, and if the original work is not in English, an English translation must accompany the original text.

Evaluation and scoring criteria

Crucially, nominators must provide a supporting statement of up to 1,500 words. To align with the EBMA committee scoring form, this document should thoroughly detail how the work meets the following weighted criteria:

• Originality and innovation (25%): How original the contribution is within the field and whether it introduces new concepts, techniques, or perspectives.
• Relationship to previous work (25%): How well the work relates to previous TA theories and research, and whether it effectively integrates relevant perspectives.
• Critical thought and value (25%): Evidence of critical thought and the degree to which the work addresses gaps or limitations in previous understanding.
• Impact on TA development (20%): The influence the work has had on practice, theory, research, or training, supported by evidence such as citations or adoption in clinical practice.
• Additional considerations (5%): Other relevant factors such as ethics, cultural relevance, and accessibility.

All materials must be submitted electronically, in either Microsoft Word or PDF format, to the ITAA administrator or the EBMA chairperson. In addition to seeking nominations, the committee is actively calling for qualified volunteers from worldwide TA associations to serve as consultants and evaluators during the upcoming review process.