FOR LEADERS IN BIODIVERSITY SCIENCE
The Biota Awards funds early-career researchers who seek to restore, protect and conserve biodiversity in the Chicago region and around the world.
Humans, animals and plants depend on healthy, thriving ecosystems. Yet, many human activities deplete our environment of the biodiversity that we need to survive. Understanding, protecting and restoring biodiversity is vital for clean air, fresh water, and fertile land for food.
Chicago is a densely populated city surrounded by diverse and rare ecosystems, including remnant prairie, wetlands, and one of the largest bodies of freshwater. While threats to biodiversity in our region are vast, the potential solutions are just as expansive. Through the Biota Awards, Walder Foundation funds creative thinkers to explore new solutions to restore and preserve our ecosystems. The Foundation promotes the long-term sustainability of the natural environment by addressing socio-environmental challenges such as climate, water, food, and health.
Meet the 2024 Biota Awardees
The 2024 Biota Awardees are addressing key conservation challenges across a variety of different landscapes in the Chicago region and beyond. From tackling invasive species, to protecting threatened species, and improving the urban environment for nature, these projects will help ensure that people and nature can thrive together.
Meet the 2022 Biota Awardees
Walder Foundation announced the inaugural cohort of Biota Award recipients in 2022. From microbes to mammals, and plants to people, this research covers a range of broader impacts, from education, land management, and policy to social science, technology, and conservation.
Meet the 2023 Biota Awardees
In 2023, the Biota Awards expanded its funding to researchers based anywhere in Illinois, with a meaningful connection to Chicago. This connection might be through the work itself, or in how it engages Chicago region communities, or in how it elevates Chicago’s contributions to tackling the global biodiversity crisis.
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