The pioneers of transformational science: Celebrating the Frontiers Planet Prize 2024 National Champions
Humanity is confronted with an environmental crisis on a planetary scale, requiring immediate action. Such a challenge can only be addressed with a concerted global effort guided by the latest scientific knowledge. We need transformational science – a radical shift in our approach – to keep our planet healthy for future generations.
The Frontiers Planet Prize celebrates breakthroughs in Earth system and planetary science that address these challenges and enable society to stay within the safe boundaries of the planet’s ecosystem. The prize puts scientific rigor and ingenuity at its heart, helping researchers worldwide accelerate society towards a green renaissance.
In its augural year, prize recognized and rewarded 20 National Champions at Frontiers Forum Live, in April 2023. This cohort of scientists participated in several global initiatives to integrate their findings into broader discussions beyond academia, including Global Knowledge Dialogues hosted by the International Science Council, roundtables at the Falling Walls Science Summit, and panel discussions on transformative pathways at COP28.
Earth Day 2024 announces the second edition's 23 National Champions, based in institutions spread across 6 continents.
Launched by the Frontiers Research Foundation on Earth Day 2022, the prize encourages universities worldwide to nominate their top three scientists working on understanding and putting forward pathways to stay within the safe operating space of the 9 planetary boundaries. These nominations are then vetted at the national level and the top scientists face an independent Jury of 100, a group of renowned sustainability and planetary health experts chaired by Professor Johan Rockström, who vote for the National and International Champions. To further support their breakthrough research, the three International Champions will each receive one million Swiss francs.
Now in its second year, the Frontiers Planet Prize has engaged with over 20 national academies of science and 475 leading universities and research institutions from 43 countries, covering most of the world’s planetary health science research. The prize marked this year’s Earth Day by announcing its 2024 National Champions, recognizing those whose research offers the greatest transformational potential and global scalability. The 23 National Champions have published groundbreaking articles that contribute to our understanding of the Earth’s systems and put forward pathways to transformative solutions with respect to the nine planetary boundaries. Their work spans a wide range of disciplines, from climate change mitigation and sustainable energy solutions to advancements in healthcare and technology. Each Champion has demonstrated a deep commitment to their research, showcasing not only their scientific expertise, but also their dedication to making the world a better place.
Of the research presented this year, approximately one-third focuses on enhancing our assessments and quantifying the impacts that human behavior and climate change have on the environment. These efforts provide clarity on the critical factors driving imbalances in major ecological systems, including forests, soil, and oceans. Another third of the research proposes innovative decision-making and environmental management strategies, fostering systemic change toward a more sustainable future. The remaining research explores cutting-edge technologies, practices, and models with immense potential to improve planetary health and deepen our understanding of our earth system
The 2024 National Champions and their respective research articles are:
Argentina: Dr Pedro Jaureguiberry, Instituto Multidisciplinario de Biología Vegetal (CONICET-UNC), The direct drivers of recent global anthropogenic biodiversity loss.
Australia: Dr Federico Maggi, The University of Sydney, Agricultural pesticide land budget and river discharge to oceans.
Austria: Dr Marta Kozicka, International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA), Feeding climate and biodiversity goals with novel plant-based meat and milk alternatives.
Brazil: Prof Dr Alexander Turra, the University of São Paulo, Advancing plastic pollution hotspotting at the subnational level: Brazil as a case study in the Global South.
Canada: Dr Umberto Berardi, Toronto Metropolitan University, Health-informed predictive regression for statistical-simulation decision-making in urban heat mitigation.
China: Dr Yang Ou, Peking University, Can updated climate pledges limit warming well below 2°C?.
Denmark: Prof Minik Rosing, the University of Copenhagen, Quantification of CO2 uptake by enhanced weathering of silicate minerals applied to acidic soils.
Finland: Dr Olga Tammeorg, University of Helsinki, Sustainable lake restoration: From challenges to solutions.
Germany: Prof Dr Peter Haase, Senckenberg Society of Nature Research and the University of Duisburg-Essen, The recovery of European freshwater biodiversity has come to a halt.
Hungary: Dr Daniel Muth, HUN-REN, Centre for Economic and Regional Studies, Budapest, Pathways to stringent carbon pricing: Configurations of political economy conditions and revenue recycling strategies. A comparison of thirty national level policies.
Italy: Dr Francesco Maria Sabatini, University of Bologna, Global patterns of vascular plant alpha diversity.
Japan: Prof Evan Economo, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology (OIST), The global distribution of known and undiscovered ant diversity.
New Zealand: Dr Rebecca Gladstone-Gallagher, the University of Auckland, Social–ecological connections across land, water, and sea demand a reprioritization of environmental management.
Poland: Prof Michal Bogdziewicz, Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznan, Reproductive collapse in European beech results from declining pollination efficiency in large trees.
Saudi-Arabia: Prof Raquel Peixoto, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Harnessing the microbiome to prevent global biodiversity loss.
South Africa: Dr Mia Strand, Nelson Mandela University, Reimagining Ocean Stewardship: Arts-Based Methods to ‘Hear’ and ‘See’ Indigenous and Local Knowledge in Ocean Management.
South Korea: Prof Seung-Ki Min, Pohang University of Science and Technology, Observationally-constrained projections of an ice-free Arctic even under a low emission scenario.
Spain: Dr Alexandra Velty, Instituto de Tecnología Química (ITQ, UPV-CSIC), Universitat Politècnica de València, Advanced zeolite and ordered mesoporous silica-based catalysts for the conversion of CO2 to chemicals and fuels.
Sweden: Dr Gerard Rocher-Ros, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences/Umeå University, Global methane emissions from rivers and streams.
Switzerland: Prof Dr Gabriela Schaepman-Strub, the University of Zurich, Vegetation type is an important predictor of the arctic summer land surface energy budget.
Turkey: Prof Dr Mustafa Sahmaran, Hacettepe University, The effects of various operational- and materials-oriented parameters on the carbonation performance of low-quality recycled concrete aggregate.
United Kingdom: Prof Stephen Widdicombe, Plymouth Marine Laboratory, Unifying biological field observations to detect and compare ocean acidification impacts across marine species and ecosystems: what to monitor and why.
United States: Prof Jason Rohr, the University of Notre Dame, A planetary health innovation for disease, food, and water challenges in Africa.
Together, the research of these winning articles serves as a catalyst for change, accelerating solutions and charting the path that will return the planet to its safe operating space within the planetary boundaries to ensure healthy lives on a healthy planet. To facilitate the systemic change needed to achieve this and safeguard our planet’s health moving forward, each National Champion will have the opportunity to share their award-winning research at national and international conferences. This is made possible through the support of the Prize's strategic partners, including Future Earth, the Potsdam Institute of Climate Research Impact, the International Science Council, and the Villars Institute.
The Frontiers Planet Prize Award Ceremony taking place this summer during the Villars Symposium 2024 in June will serve as the first of many such opportunities. Led by the Villars Institute, an international non-profit foundation dedicated to accelerating the transition to a net zero and nature positive economy, the Villars Symposium brings thought leaders from policy, practice, and philanthropy together. Each champion will present their research and engage with key planetary health figures across academia, policy, business, and non-governmental agencies, all of whom have the capability to shape policy and influence civil society. The symposium also includes a global cohort of system- and solution-oriented high school students from schools all over the world, which will offer an additional chance to foster intergenerational collaboration and prepare the next generation to combat climate change.
Through the celebration of science, the Frontiers Planet Prize ignites a movement towards a more sustainable future. Its influence extends far beyond the prize itself, catalyzing transformation, inspiring action, scaling impact, influencing policy, and fostering collaboration at a critical time in planetary health through a butterfly effect.
Commenting on the 2024 Frontiers Planet Prize, Jean-Claude Burgelman, director of the Frontiers Planet Prize, said:
“We are confronted with an environmental crisis on a planetary scale, creating a true threat for humanity. The ambition of the Frontiers Planet Prize is to directly address this crisis by mobilizing scientists engaged in breakthrough research. We congratulate the National Champions and thank all the nominees for their valuable research and ongoing commitment to saving our planet.”
Chairman of the Jury of 100, Prof Johan Rockstrom added:
"As we face unprecedented environmental challenges, with six out of nine planetary boundaries transgressed, it is imperative that we harness the power of science to navigate our way towards a sustainable future. The contributions of the National Winners are decisive in advancing our understanding of the whole Earth system and provide critical additions to the solution space. My fellow jurors and I congratulate the National Winners for their remarkable contributions and commend all nominees for their dedication to keep us within a safe operating space for humanity."
