Mensa Education & Research Foundation Awards Part of the Foundation's efforts to identify and foster human intelligence for the benefit of humanity involves encouraging research into the characteristics and uses of intelligence. Several awards programs have been established to recognize this research and efforts to publicize its results. Distinguished Teacher Award Recognizes a teacher, professor, or instructor at any educational level who has had an especially positive influence on the education or life of a Mensa member. Awards for Excellence in Research Presented jointly with Mensa International, Ltd., these awards are given internationally for outstanding research on intelligence, intellectual giftedness, and related fields published or presented during the previous year. The papers are reviewed by the Research Review Board, and monetary awards are given for the 10 best published papers. Lifetime Achievement Award This award is presented bi-annually to an individual whose work in fields relating to human intelligence and giftedness has been especially outstanding over a long career. Copper Black Award The Foundation's annual award of $500 to a Mensa member who has made the most outstanding creative achievement during the year. The achievement may be an invention, an innovation, or a unique improvement that has proven successful. Mensa Press Award This award recognizes excellence in writing about human intelligence and giftedness, thereby encouraging reporters and editors to spread the news to lay audiences. Articles that have appeared in newspapers and magazines are eligible.