The Ecological Society of America is pleased to announce the winners of its 2024 awards, which recognize outstanding contributions to ecology in new discoveries, teaching, sustainability, diversity and lifelong commitment to the profession.
These awards are designed to not only reward past achievements, but also to inspire a broad audience of scientists, educators and students, opening the door to new insights and collaborations that will further the impact of ecological research.
“The Ecological Society of America is immensely proud to honor this year’s distinguished awardees,” said ESA President Shahid Naeem. “Their contributions across various domains—be it through pioneering research, outstanding service or dedicated teaching—embody the spirit of this society and the ecological community. Congratulations to all for advancing the frontiers of ecological science.”
ESA will present the 2024 awards during a ceremony at the Society’s upcoming Annual Meeting, which will take place in Long Beach, California Aug. 4–9.
Sustainability Science Award
Jason Rohr, Alexandra E. Sack, Sidy Bakhoum, Christopher B. Barrett, David Lopez-Carr, Andrew J. Chamberlin, David J. Civitello, Cledor Diatta, Molly J. Doruska, Giulio De Leo, Christopher J. E. Haggerty, Isabel J. Jones, Nicolas Jouanard, Andrea J. Lund, Amadou T. Ly, Raphael A. Ndione, Justin V. Remais, Gilles Riveau, Anne-Marie Schacht, Momy Seck Ndao, Simon Senghor, Susanne Helene Sokolow and Caitlin Wolfe
An international team of biologists, social scientists and medical researchers from the United States and Senegal is the recipient of the 2024 Sustainability Science Award for a study that offers a win-win solution for addressing food and water access, poverty alleviation, disease control and environmental degradation in West Africa.
The Sustainability Science Award recognizes the authors of the scholarly work that makes the greatest contribution to the emerging science of ecosystem and regional sustainability through the integration of ecological and social sciences.
“,” by corresponding author Jason Rohr and 22 other researchers, was published in Nature July 12, 2023. The study presents a strategy for managing the parasitic disease schistosomiasis, which affects millions globally, by addressing the environmental conditions that foster its spread.
The team conducted a randomized controlled trial in Senegal, removing invasive freshwater plants that restricted water access for local villages and served as habitat for disease-transmitting snails. The experiment not only reduced disease rates but also generated large amounts of plant material that could be repurposed as cheap livestock feed and compost, enhancing agricultural productivity and economic outcomes for local communities.
By turning a public health hazard into a valuable resource, the research demonstrates a scalable solution that benefits both human health and the environment. Furthermore, it showcases the power of integrating scientific research with community engagement—local participation was pivotal to the project’s success. The work stands as a prime example of how sustainable practices can significantly improve wealth, health, food and water access simultaneously, embodying the principles of sustainability science and offering a model for global ecological and social challenges.
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