Neville Shulman Awards 2012
Earthwatch announces grants to support young scientists.
Earthwatch is delighted to announce the winners of the 2012 Neville Shulman Awards. The awards support emerging environmental leaders from Africa, Asia, Central and South America to plan and implement research and education-focused conservation projects. The initiative is funded by author and explorer Mr. Neville Shulman CBE.
Neville Shulman Award Winners: Islam Mohammad-Elsadek and Maria Isabel Estevez
Two successful applicants will receive a grant of £4000 (approx. $6,500 U.S.) to carry out projects, and five runners-up will receive £500 (approx. $800 U.S.) to contribute to training opportunities. The recipients are early-career scientists who are nominated and mentored by Earthwatch scientists. As well as developing their own skills, they also bring extra dimensions to the Earthwatch projects with which they are associated – often a community or education angle which increases the positive impacts of research projects, and enhances the experience of volunteers participating on those projects.
26 year old Islam Mohammad-Elsadek from Egypt is one of this year’s recipients of the full £4000 award. He will work alongside Earthwatch scientist Marina Costa in the Egyptian Red Sea to develop a catalogue of the marine mammal species of a previously unstudied coastal area in the south of Egypt. The marine mammals of the Red Sea are among the world's least understood populations. By collecting data on their population status, habitat preferences, and existing or potential threats from human activities, Islam will be able to feed into the development of a targeted strategy to protect whales and dolphins in the area and in the wider Red Sea.
“I can’t describe how happy I am to get the grant”, says Islam, ”It will help me in achieving many of my goals. I love my work and I have many research ambitions. I will start the project as soon as possible.”
The second winner of the full grant this year, Maria Isabel Estevez, 28 from Ecuador will work on a research project aimed at conserving the critically endangered brown-headed spider monkey in north-west Ecuador, under the guidance of Earthwatch scientist Dr Mika Peck. Maria will develop a forest community educational programme with schools and teachers in north-west Ecuador to raise awareness of the need to protect primates. She also plans to establish and train a network of local community representatives to deliver environmental education programmes, and to monitor and report on the status of endangered primates to gauge effectiveness of conservation programmes. “I feel so proud to undertake this big challenge for the conservation of the critically endangered brown-headed spider monkey”, says Maria.
Even the smaller £500 grants can make a tremendous positive difference to the advancement of scientific careers. Dr Paul Mouria, lead scientist on Kenya-based Earthwatch project ’Conserving Grevy’s zebras’ nominated runner-up Daniel Letoiye. Dr Mouria says, “I believe that this support will help Daniel continue building his career in conservation. When Daniel joined us as a volunteer on the Grevy’s zebra project in 2003, he was a primary school teacher. Now he is in the UK studying for his Masters degree. I am personally proud of his accomplishments and the fact that Earthwatch has helped and continue to mentor and support Daniel and many other Kenyans as they develop their conservation careers.”
Since 2008, Neville Shulman has supported the development of 25 early career scientists through Earthwatch projects in 16 countries. In that time, grant recipients have gone on to make some remarkable achievements in the world of conservation and environmental education.
Sarah Staunton-Lamb, Learning Manager for Emerging Scientists, concludes “Building the skills and knowledge of scientists, teachers and students among the communities where Earthwatch is working is a vital part of our mission. The extraordinary people who have benefited from Neville’s generous support have demonstrated passion and dedication in reaching their own career goals, as well as working with Earthwatch scientists to advance vital conservation and education initiatives to ensure our work leaves a lasting legacy. We are extremely proud of all of these individuals.”