Grand Rapids, MI - The Acton Institute is pleased to announce that Dr. Michael Casey of Sydney, Australia, has been chosen as the 2001 Novak Award winner. Established through the generosity of the Joseph Calihan family, the Novak Award is named in honor of contemporary religious philosopher Michael Novak and is given annually by the Acton Institute to an outstanding scholar who has conducted promising new research into the interrelation of religion and economic liberty.
Dr. Casey is a permanent fellow in sociology and politics and a member of the Governing Council at the John Paul II Institute for Marriage and the Family in Melbourne, Australia. He also serves as private secretary to the archbishop of Sydney, the Most Reverend Dr. George Pell. An accomplished scholar with a bachelor of arts and a bachelor of laws from Monash University, as well as a doctorate of philosophy from La Trobe University, Dr. Casey has published his work in numerous books and periodicals. His winning entry for the Novak Award was a timely paper titled “Preliminary Reflections on Globalization and Religion after September 11.”
Dr. Casey will present his research and officially receive his $10,000 award at the annual Calihan Lecture to be held in Washington, D.C. this fall.
The Novak Award is given annually by the Acton Institute. The submission deadline is December 31 and the award announcement is made the following spring. Individuals who have recently received a doctoral degree are eligible to apply, as are current doctoral students in an accredited domestic or international program in theology, religion, economics, philosophy, or business. For more information on eligibility requirements for the Novak Award or any of the Institute's student fellowship programs, please visit www.acton.org/programs/students/awards