TWS 2021 Awards Season: Professional Achievement Awards

The Wildlife Society is accepting nominations for awards through May 1, 2021. The Awards Program annually honors professional excellence, recognizes outstanding achievement, and highlights contributions to wildlife science and management.

The Wildlife Society presents several professional achievement awards, including: Aldo Leopold Memorial Award, Caesar Kleberg Award for Excellence in Applied Wildlife Research, Diversity Award and Jay N. “Ding” Darling Memorial Award for Wildlife Stewardship Through Art. These awards recognize and celebrate individuals and organizations who have made outstanding contributions and efforts to further the wildlife profession.

The Aldo Leopold Memorial Award was created to honor the late Aldo Leopold and is the highest honor bestowed by TWS. This award recognizes individuals with a well-established and distinguished career that has been of undoubted significance to the cause of wildlife conservation. For more information about the criteria and nomination process, click here.

The Caesar Kleberg Award for Excellence in Applied Wildlife Research recognizes individuals whose exemplary work in wildlife research has resulted in the application of management and conservation “on the ground.” Nominations should demonstrate a record of applied research over a substantial period of time, rather than accomplishments involving a single research endeavor. For more information about the criteria and nomination process, click here.

The Diversity Award honors individuals and organizations who go above and beyond to promote diversity in natural resource-related professions, including the workforce, academic enrollment or organizational membership. Eligible individuals will be evaluated under the following criteria: leadership, innovation and tangible results. Eligible organizations will be evaluated under the following criteria: innovation and creativity, resource investment, overcoming challenges and obstacles, sustained efforts and tangible results. For more information about the criteria and the nomination process, click here.

The Jay N. “Ding” Darling Memorial Award for Wildlife Stewardship Through Art is intended to be a lasting recognition of the heritage established by Jay N. “Ding” Darling to promote wildlife and habitat conservation through art. Eligible nominations include artwork piece(s), endeavors, or another medium that can be effectively described as an artistic way of promoting collaboration to support wildlife stewardship. For more information about the criteria and the nomination process, click here.

All four award nominations/applications are due by Saturday, May 1, 2021 at 11:59 PM EDT. Please check individual awards websites for necessary submission materials and means of submission.

Learn more about TWS Awards

For questions, please contact awards@wildlife.org.