Robert Jones Medal and Association Prize

Applications for the 2027 Robert Jones Medal open on 1st January and close on 31st January 2027.

The BOA offers a prize of £500 and a gold medal in memory of Sir Robert Jones through an annual essay competition. BOA members are invited to submit an essay on a topic of their choice relating to orthopaedics.

Eligibility and submission

• Entrants must be current BOA members at the closing date of the competition.
• Only one entry per person may be submitted.
• Essays must be typewritten in English and must not exceed 3,000 words, excluding references.
• Entries must be received by the stated closing date. Late or incomplete submissions will not normally be considered.
• Essays must be anonymised. Entrants must not include their name or other information within the essay that could identify them to the judges.
• Entries will be reviewed anonymously by the BOA President and/or other judges appointed by the BOA.

Originality, AI and academic integrity

• The essay must be the entrant’s own original work.
• Generative artificial intelligence (AI) tools must not be used to write, rewrite, paraphrase or generate the content of the essay.
• Standard spelling, grammar and reference-management tools may be used, provided they do not generate or substantially rewrite the content of the essay.
• All sources, quotations, data and ideas derived from the work of others must be appropriately acknowledged and referenced.
• Plagiarism, fabrication or falsification of information or data is not permitted.
• The BOA may use plagiarism-detection, AI-detection and other appropriate tools or methods to assist in assessing the originality and authenticity of an entry. The results of such tools will not necessarily be treated as conclusive evidence of a breach and may be considered alongside other relevant information.
• The BOA may ask an entrant to provide further information where there are reasonable concerns regarding the originality or authorship of an essay.

By submitting an entry, the entrant confirms that the essay is their own original work, that they have complied with these requirements concerning the use of AI, and that all sources have been appropriately acknowledged.

Confidentiality and permissions

• Entrants are responsible for ensuring that patient confidentiality is maintained and that no patient or other individual can be identified without appropriate consent.
• Where applicable, entrants are responsible for obtaining any necessary consent, ethical approval or other permissions relating to material included in their essay.
• Entrants must have permission to reproduce any third-party images, figures, tables or other copyright material included in their submission.

Judging and award

• Entries will be judged on their quality, originality, relevance to orthopaedics and overall merit.
• The decision of the judges is final.
• The BOA reserves the right not to award the prize if, in the judges’ opinion, no entry reaches the required standard.
• The successful entrant will receive the Robert Jones Medal and a prize of £500.
• The BOA reserves the right to disqualify an entry that does not comply with these terms and conditions. Where a breach is identified after an award has been made, the BOA reserves the right to withdraw the award and request the return of any prize money.

Publication

• Entrants retain copyright in their work.
• By submitting an essay, entrants grant the BOA permission to publish and reproduce the winning entry, in whole or in part, through BOA publications, its website and other BOA communications and promotional channels, with appropriate acknowledgement of the author.
• The BOA may contact an entrant before publication if editorial amendments are required.

General

• Entrants must disclose any relevant conflicts of interest.
• The BOA reserves the right to amend these terms and conditions or to suspend or cancel the competition where reasonably necessary.
• Submission of an entry constitutes acceptance of these terms and conditions.

E-mail the essay to Celia Jones, PA to President & COO at [email protected].