BIWAKO PRIZE FOR ECOLOGY

Invitation to apply “Biwako Prize for Ecology.”

Jotaro Urabe (Chair of the committee for the Biwako Prize, ESJ)

The “Biwako Prize for Ecology” is awarded to researchers under the age of 50 who have made an outstanding contribution to the field of aquatic ecology and/or related disciplines in areas east to south. I am delighted to invite such researchers to make self-recommendations for the 22nd Biwako Prize for Ecology. The candidates are not limited to members of the ESJ.

The 21st Biwako Prize for Ecology winners were Dr. Toshifumi Minamoto (University of Kobe) and Dr. Takehito Yoshida (Research Institute for Humanity and Nature / Tokyo University). Dr. Mninamoto has studied a variety of aquatic organisms using genetic information and was the first in the world to successfully use metabarcoding techniques of “Environmental DNA” to uncover compositions of aquatic communities. Because of the importance of his leading studies with the efforts to popularize the technique, he was highly evaluated and awarded the 21st Biwako Prize for Ecology. Dr. Yoshida has studied various ecological subjects in aquatic ecosystems and revealed how short-term evolution is important in population and community dynamics. In addition, he conducted multidisciplinary studies for conserving aquatic ecosystems and natures in collaboration with stakeholders in the watersheds. For his excellent leadership with high-quality input into ecology, he was awarded the 21st Biwako Prize for Ecology.

As such, this prize acknowledges outstanding researchers in various disciplines related to the aquatic environment. It is expected that award recipients will contribute to ecology in general and aquatic science, especially as leading scientists and expand the scope of sciences related to aquatic environments by presenting their academic achievements in an easily understandable manner to general societies.

This year, for the 22nd prize, we recruit applicants for the “Biwako Prize for Ecology.” Nominees must be residents of East and Southeast Asia, including the eastern part of Russia and the western Pacific region but excluding Australia and New Zealand, and must be persons whose academic activities in these regions are highly appreciated. The selection will be conducted by experts not only in aquatic sciences but also scientists who have been active in general biology and environmental sciences, thereby removing discipline-specific bias.

Recipients will be invited to attend an award ceremony before and after the Day of Lake Biwa in July, where they will be awarded by the Governor of Shiga Prefecture where Lake Biwa located, and expected to give a commemorative lecture. In addition, we will invite recipients to publish a review or report in an academic journal published by the Ecological Society of Japan. I hope that applicants have confidence in their own achievements and do not hesitate to apply for the “Biwako Prize for Ecology.”

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