Some time ago, this year, in a group of The Institute of Physics, there was announced a competition for an award purported to be for the best PhD thesis in physics this year.

I looked at the rules and I wrote to the organizers asking why, as the competition is for, in their opinion, the best PhD in Physics thesis this year, why the rules required an applicant for the prize to include a curriculum vitae and details of where and when the candidate obtained his or her first degree and the class of degree, as the competition was for the best PhD in Physics, not for the best combination of PhD thesis, curriculum vitae and consideration of where the candidate got his or her first degree and its class.

For the avoidance of doubt, there was no possibility of me, or anyone connected to me, being a candidate.

I received a reply that my comments would be put to the committee and would be taken into account when considering the rules for next year's competition.

Just wondering, how do people here feel about this? Should one take into account everything about the candidate, or, if the award is for the best PhD thesis in Physics should it be only on the thesis and nothing else?

William