The University of Chicago Press has awarded the 2025 Gordon J. Laing Award to Professor Jenny Trinitapoli for her insightful book "An Epidemic of Uncertainty: Navigating HIV and Young Adulthood in Malawi." The award was presented by President Paul Alivisatos at a reception on April 9th at the David Rubenstein Forum.
Alivisatos commended the book's contribution, stating, “An Epidemic of Uncertainty exemplifies the kind of scholarship the Laing Prize was created to honor—empirically rich, methodologically rigorous and conceptually bold.” He emphasized the book’s exploration of HIV-related uncertainty as a significant social force.
The Laing Award annually recognizes a faculty author, editor, or translator whose work has significantly distinguished the Press. Books from 2022 and 2023 were considered for this year's award.
In her work, Trinitapoli brings attention to the overlooked aspect of “what people know they don’t know.” She highlights that around half of Malawian young adults are unaware of their HIV status, illustrating that despite declining infection and mortality rates, uncertainty remains prevalent. Trinitapoli argues that this uncertainty is a measurable social force affecting various aspects of life in the town of Balaka.
The book has received praise from notable journals such as Social Forces, which highlighted its innovative data and complex analysis. Joel Isaac, chair of the Board of University Publications, recognized the work as a "remarkable feat of scholarship."
Isaac noted, “Brilliantly, Trinitapoli combines micro-level analysis of how individuals confront social decisions with macro-level findings about the impact of this uncertainty on fertility, marriage, divorce, family structure, income, and poverty.”
Professor Trinitapoli expressed her gratitude, stating, “It’s an honor to be recognized by the university community; it’s especially gratifying to know that the work we did in Balaka is spurring a more expansive conversation about the role of uncertainty in social life.”
Garrett Kiely, director of the Press, expressed pride in supporting Trinitapoli’s work, noting its importance in understanding human experience.
The Gordon J. Laing Award honors the legacy of Laing, who was the general editor of the University of Chicago Press from 1909 to 1940. Trinitapoli joins a distinguished list of past recipients, including Margareta Ingrid Christian, Elisabeth C. Clemens, Lisa Wedeen, Michael Rossi, Eve L. Ewing, and Deborah Nelson.