APRIL 8, 2019 --- The Society for Conservation Biology (SCB) bestowed high honors on six conservationists from around the world for their contributions to the field of conservation and biodiversity protection. The Society will present the awards at a special ceremony at the 2019 International Congress for Conservation Biology (ICCB) in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia this July.
SCB’s global awards, presented every other year at the ICCB, are given to individuals, groups, or institutions for distinguished service in any field associated with conservation biology and whose work has furthered the mission of SCB. This year, the following individuals will be honored at ICCB 2019 for their outstanding work in the field:
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Distinguished Service Award: recognizes individuals, groups or institutions for distinguished service in any field associated with conservation biology and whose work has furthered the mission of SCB.
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Professor E.J. Milner-Gulland: Tasso Leventis Professor of Biodiversity; Director, Interdisciplinary Centre for Conservation Science; Fellow of Merton College at the University of Oxford. Awarded for her incredible leadership and innovation in conservation science, practice, policy and capacity building on a global scale.
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Professor Richard Kingsford: Director, Centre for Ecosystem Science at the University of New South Wales. Awarded for his extraordinary contributions to the conservation of freshwater and wetland ecosystems through on-the-ground action, contributions at the science-policy interface, and global conservation leadership.
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Edward T. LaRoe III Memorial Award: Given to individuals who have been a leader in translating principles of conservation biology into real-world conservation. Preference is given to employees of government agencies or individuals who have spent at least part of their career in public service. The intention of the award is to recognize the innovative application of science to resource management and policy.
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Dr. Mark Shaffer: Former Vice President, The Wilderness Society; Former Vice President, The Nature Conservancy; Former Vice President Defenders of Wildlife; Former Program Director for Environment, Doris Duke Charitable Foundation; Former National Climate Change Policy Advisor, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Awarded for his extraordinary contributions to develop and implement policies and programs to conserve biodiversity and promote climate adaptation in the U.S. and globally.
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Mr. Kevin Hiew Wai Phang: Former Official, Malaysia Department of Fisheries; Former Conservation Director and Government Liaison, WWF-Malaysia. Awarded for pioneering marine biodiversity conservation efforts in Malaysia, most notably the establishment of marine parks and championing the Coral Triangle Initiative (CTI).
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Conservation Beacon Award: Recognizes women of marginalized and multiply marginalized status that are traditionally under-served within higher education. Inclusive of this group are women of color, low socioeconomic status, women with disabilities, trans women, first generation women scholars, lesbians and other intersections that result in under-served women in higher education.
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Dr. Tuyeni Heita Mwampamba: Associate Research Professor, Institute of Research on Ecosystems and Sustainability at the National Autonomous University of Mexico. Awarded for her outstanding and heroic accomplishments in tropical forest management and sustainability through research, global outreach, and exemplary voluntary service.
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Early Career Conservationist Award: Honors achievements in conservation by professionals early in their careers (no more than 10 years since leaving school). SCB does not apply an age criterion in order to enable eligibility for individuals who might have come to conservation as a second career.
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Dr. Aerin Jacob: Conservation Scientist, Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative. Awarded for her extraordinary leadership, vision, and achievements to strengthen science in environmental impact assessment.
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If you’re not able to attend ICCB 2019, look for future communications from SCB with interviews of award winners and a webinar where all the winners will present their research.