Irving Widmore Bailey (1884—1967) was one of the greatest wood anatomists of all time. His publications on xylem evolution, cambium and wood formation, cell wall ultrastructure, fossil woods, tree pathology, vestured pits, wood identification, and wood properties remain seminal to this day. His broad insights into the biological and practical significance of pattern and process in plant structure are still inspirational. IAWA honours his memory by naming the award for early career researchers who publish their work in the IAWA Journal after him.

The I.W. Bailey Award is presented annually for the best original or review paper published in the IAWA Journal by an undergraduate, graduate student, or postdoc up to five years after their PhD defense. All subject matters published in the IAWA Journal are eligible: wood, bark, palm, bamboo, and rattan anatomy and ultrastructure, preferably linked to other fields such as, for instance, plant physiology, ecology, tree biology, pathology and decay, plant systematics and phylogeny, palaeobotany, climatology, archaeobotany, wood properties, biomechanics and wood culture. The Award consists of a certificate and 1000 Euro, sponsored by De Gruyter-Brill Publishers.

Candidates may nominate their own submissions directly to the editors Lloyd Donaldson (lloyd.donaldson@scionresearch.com) and Veronica De Micco (demicco@unina.it) together with a one-page CV, and one supporting statement from a senior IAWA Member before September 1st of the current year. The Award Committee will be formed by the Editors and Associate Editors of the IAWA Journal.