The past year has been disorienting, to say the least. Widespread political and social upheaval, uneven efforts to control the coronavirus, and shifting protocols for online working, teaching, and learning have all proven one thing: we need expertise. We need guidance backed by robust research.

Believing that the social and behavioral sciences can make sense of the greatest challenges we face today, SAGE strives to publish cutting-edge research, support academics and researchers with big ideas, and provide freely accessible resources for the public. Recently, SAGE garnered accolades for three of these resources at the thirty-third annual APEX awards, winning a Grand Award for Together Apart: The Psychology of COVID-19, an Award of Excellence for the How to Get Published webinar, and an Award of Excellence for the Structural Racism and Police Violence microsite.

This year, APEX evaluated nearly 1,200 entries based on excellence in graphic design, editorial content, and communications. Ultimately, the judges presented 100 Grand Awards to honor outstanding work in 13 major categories and 471 Awards of Excellence to recognize entries in 100 sub-categories. Here’s a closer look at SAGE’s winning resources:

Together Apart: The Psychology of COVID-19

When the COVID-19 pandemic began forcing lockdowns across the globe in March of 2020, policymakers faced a momentous challenge: how do you persuade millions of people to stay at home, wear masks, and sacrifice all semblance of normalcy simply because it’s “the right thing to do”? Psychologists Jolanda Jetten, Stephen Reicher, S. Alexander Haslam, and Tegan Cruwys quickly realized that changing human behavior would be one of the best and only ways to slow the spread of the disease. In May of 2020, SAGE published their book Together Apart: The Psychology of COVID-19 as a free-to-download PDF on Social Science Space.

Since its original publication, Together Apart has been downloaded over 40,000 times. In providing a comprehensive analysis of the psychology behind COVID-19, the book has acted as a guide for those implementing public health policies and a starting point for researchers across the social sciences who are studying the effects of the virus.

The book is also available for free on all major eBook retail platforms.

How to Get Published Webinar

For many researchers and academics, the prospect of publishing a paper in an academic journal can be simultaneously exciting and daunting. Featuring Jessica Lipowski, Publishing Editor at SAGE, and a panel of seasoned Editors-in-Chief from a range of disciplines, SAGE’s free “How to Get Published” webinar details best practices for potential authors and provides an inside look at the publishing process. Over 3,000 people registered for the event, eager to learn how to increase the chances of having a paper accepted; how to establish contacts during the publishing and peer review process; and how to play a role in disseminating their research.

Structural Racism and Police Violence Microsite

As protests against police brutality and structural racism broke out across the United States in the summer of 2020, many began seriously asking: Why and how have racial inequities persisted for so long? And what will it take to build a more equitable future? Recognizing that the social and behavioral sciences could help contextualize and combat many of the structural problems that continue to shape America, SAGE compiled a collection of freely accessible research on this Structural Racism and Police Violence microsite.

Aimed at helping educators discuss the impacts of systemic racism with their students, supporting researchers in future scholarship, and informing policymakers in the fight to implement sweeping structural reforms, the site covers race and policing, healthcare and inequality, social activism, and frameworks for a radically improved future. Since launching in July of 2020, the site has garnered 28,000 pageviews and led to over 11,600 article downloads.

This year, APEX also recognized two of SAGE’s partner societies for resources they published in response to the pandemic. The American Academy of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery received an Award of Excellence for their COVID-19 Podcast Series, which covers topics ranging from patient safety to telemedicine to managing and reducing stress. And the American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education received an Award of Excellence for their COVID-19 Resource Hub, a website dedicated to providing tools, resources, and information for educators amid changing policies and widespread contention over schooling during the pandemic.

With the 2021 awards, APEX has recognized resources that contextualize problems, support future investigations, and amplify expertise. As the world enters the next phase of this pandemic, the social and behavioral sciences must continue to guide public policy and pave the way forward.

More information about all the 2021 winners can be found on the 2021 APEX Award website.