Frontiers Planet Prize!
I’m absolutely delighted to share that Daniel Hernández-Carrasco has been named National Champion representing Aotearoa New Zealand for the Frontiers Planet Prize.
What a good way to celebrate Earth Day! In June, three of the 25 National Champions will be awarded US$1 million to fast-track their transformative research.
He was selected based on his first authored paper last year in Science Magazine: “Ecological and evolutionary consequences of changing seasonality”
Daniel says: “Changes in the seasons are reshaping the natural world, affecting when species grow, migrate, reproduce, and interact. These changes matter because the stability and performance of ecosystems – and the benefits they provide to people – depend on predictable seasonal rhythms.”
“Our research shows how and why disruptions to these rhythms can cascade from individual organisms to whole ecosystems, revealing which systems are most vulnerable and which may be resilient to future change. By integrating seasonality into monitoring and management, we can better anticipate these impacts and help safeguard biodiversity in a rapidly changing world.”
Being named as New Zealand’s National champion is a remarkable achievement given the stage of Daniel’s career. It reflects the quality, novelty, and importance of the work.
The research brings together cutting-edge theory and application in a way that is both scientifically rigorous and highly relevant to environmental management in a world that is rapidly changing. This is exactly the kind of research we need if we’re serious about developing science-based solutions to the global biodiversity crisis.
It’s especially encouraging for an early-career researcher to be recognised by such a prestigious prize on the global stage like this.
Link to 25 national winners
Royal Society of NZ news
University of Canterbury press release