Heather Lynch Named as Finalist of the Prestigious Blavatnik National Awards for Young Scientists
The Blavatnik Family Foundation and the New York Academy of Sciences recently announced Finalists of the 2019 Blavatnik National Awards for Young Scientists. Thirty-one promising young scientists will compete for Blavatnik National Laureate
Awards in three categories: Chemistry, Physical Sciences & Engineering, and Life Sciences.
Each winner will win $250,000—the largest unrestricted prize for early-career scientists
in the world!
Professor Heather Lynch, an associate professor of Ecology & Evolution and co-PI for
STRIDE is one of 11 nominees in the Life Sciences category. Dr. Lynch, a quantitative
ecologist, monitors Antarctic penguin populations using field surveys in conjunction
with satellite imagery that can track the size of penguin colonies on the ground.
Using advanced mathematical modeling and data on the spatiotemporal patterns of penguin
populations, Dr. Lynch can detect population declines predictive of penguin colony
collapse. Her work with Adélie penguins is of particular importance as this species
provides key data on the health of the Southern Ocean ecosystem.
“The goal of the Awards is to help solve the world’s greatest scientific and technological challenges by supporting outstanding young scientists and engineers,” said Len Blavatnik, founder and chairman of Access Industries, head of the Blavatnik Family Foundation and member of the President’s Council of the New York Academy of Sciences. “Acknowledging, encouraging and funding stellar scientists early in their careers provides them with the confidence and freedom to channel their energy and creativity into ground-breaking discoveries that benefit society as a whole.”
The Blavatnik National Awards for Young Scientists recognizes the great scientific accomplishments made by young faculty-rank scientists ages 42 and under, and their future promise at America’s top academic and research institutions. This year the Blavatnik National Awards received 343 nominations from 169 academic and research centers across 44 states – a record amount in all three categories.
The three 2019 National Laureates will be chosen and announced June 26, 2019.