G. Evelyn Hutchinson Award

BACKGROUND

The G. Evelyn Hutchinson Award has been presented annually since 1982 to recognize excellence in any aspect of limnology or oceanography. The award is intended to symbolize the quality and innovations toward which the society strives and to remind its members of these goals. In lending his name to the award, Hutchinson asked that recipients be scientists who had made considerable contributions to knowledge, and whose future work promised a continuing legacy of scientific excellence.

ELIGIBILITY

Emphasis in selection will be given to mid-career scientists for work accomplished during the preceding 5-10 years. Preference will be given to candidates within 25 years of the receipt of their most advanced degree. Exceptional cases may be considered. This award is for an individual.

NOMINATIONS PACKAGE

Each nomination must be supported by a letter (not to exceed two pages) on qualifications. Ideally this letter should include statements that would form the basis of the citation and the presentation speech at the ASLO meeting. The nomination package may also include a list of important publications and other pertinent information, but in total this package shall be no more than 3 pages. The nomination should also be supported by 3 letters of endorsement of no more than 1 page each. These letters should indicate the breadth of support for the nominees and the perspectives of different individuals to clearly indicate the breadth of contributions of the nominee.

AWARD RECIPIENTS

John O. Dabiri (2023) for stretching the boundaries of aquatic science by demonstrating that the fluid dynamic lessons learned from planktonic organisms have broad applications, from undersea vehicles to wind turbines. Read complete citation

Benjamin Van Mooy (2022) for fundamental insights into phosphorus and lipid cycling in marine ecosystems, through innovative experimental and observational studies employing novel analytical techniques. Read complete citation

Elena Litchman (2021), for pioneering the use of trait-based approaches to understand marine and freshwater phytoplankton community structure, biodiversity, and evolutionary ecology. Read complete citation | View award presentation

Daniel Schindler (2020), for inspiring insight about ecosystem connectivity across the fresh to saltwater continuum and how climate and landscape drive ecosystem processes. Read complete citation | View award presentation

Oscar Schofield (2019), for transforming our understanding of the physical and chemical processes that govern marine phytoplankton physiology and ecology through the application of novel ocean observing tools, and for his skillful and enthusiastic leadership of the collaborative science necessary for addressing broad scale oceanographic challenges. Read complete citation | View award presentation

Emily Stanley (2018), for her outstanding and synthetic contributions to our understanding of the roles of hydrology and the biogeochemistry of nitrogen and carbon in lake and stream ecology. Read complete citation | View award presentation

Philip Boyd (2017), for his pioneering work on the complex interactions of biogeochemistry, climate change multiple drivers, and their impacts on ocean planktonic ecosystems. View award presentation

Jack Middelburg (2016), for his pivotal contribution to the development of concepts and models incorporating the role of aquatic biota on carbon and nutrient cycling in aquatic ecosystems. View award presentation

Craig Carlson (2015), whose pioneering work accurately mapped DOC variation and linked it to the dynamics of microbial communities, establishing scientific concepts that are now considered vital to understanding the ocean carbon cycle and assessing its impact on future planetary health. View award presentation (audio begins at 23:00)

Gerhard Herndl (2014), for his exploration of microbial and biogeochemical processes in the dark ocean.

Curtis A. Suttle (2013), for his pioneering, transformative and multi-faceted work in the field of marine virology. View award presentation

James Elser (2012), for his work on biological stoichiometry in both aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems and biota, and the use of evolutionary theory in understanding the organization from the molecule and cell to the ecosystem. View award presentation

Cindy Lee (2011), for her pioneering work in the transformation of particles as they are formed and pass through the depths of the sea. View award presentation

Peter Dillon (2010), for his pioneering work in chemical limnology, including innovative research on eutrophication in lakes and long-term studies that have significantly advanced understanding of the responses of lakes and wetlands to acid deposition and climate change. View award presentation

Michael Pace (2009), for sustained and outstanding contributions to understanding of vertical fluxes in lakes and oceans, trophic cascades in planktonic and microbial systems, assessment of comparative and experimental approaches in aquatic ecology, and synthesis of the status and future directions of ecosystem ecology. View award presentation

Alice Alldredge (2008) for her work on marine snow which has and continues to revolutionize our understanding of particle flux and carbon cycling within the sea. View award presentation

John P. Smol (2007) for outstanding contributions and leadership in bridging paleolimnology with limnology, ecology, and the environmental sciences, as well as his seminal work on polar limnology and environmental change.

Jed A. Fuhrman (2006), for his development of the emergent field of microbial oceanography.

Mary E. Power (2005), for her ground-breaking, synthetic work on river food webs and community ecology and innovative use of large-scale experiments, for her work on coupling between ecosystems, and for her active role in conservation biology.

Bo Barker Jorgensen (2004), for outstanding contributions to the understanding of the biogeochemistry and microbial ecology of marine sediments, including development of new techniques, discovery of new organisms and metabolic pathways, and elucidation of the role of boundary layers; for the promotion of interdisciplinary approaches to benthic studies.

Hans W. Paerl (2003), for contributing to understanding of aquatic microbial processes; for documenting linkages among the atmospheric deposition of nitrogen, coastal eutrophication, and harmful algal blooms; and for crossing traditional research boundaries delineating organism- to system-level perspectives within freshwater, estuarine and marine ecosystems.

Louis Legendre (2002), for diverse contributions to quantification of aquatic ecological processes but in particular for cross-environment syntheses of hydrodynamic controls on phytoplankton production and carbon fluxes.

Carlos M. Duarte (2001), for significant contributions to the ecology of aquatic vegetation as well as creative, paradigm-challenging research on planktonic primary and secondary production across a range of aquatic environments.

Paul Falkowski (2000), for his extensive contribution to understanding aquatic photosynthesis and nutrient uptake ranging from molecular mechanisms to global patterns of biogeochemical cycling.

Stephen R. Carpenter (1999) in recognition of his work in blending experiment, comparative study, modeling and innovative statistical analysis to unravel the complex interactions among community characteristics and ecosystem functions and, in doing so, building important bridges between fundamental limnology and issues in lake management.

David M. Karl (1998) for leadership in the fields of methods development, microbial ecology, molecular ecology and biogeochemistry, for analysis of whole ecosystems in the Pacific and Antarctic Oceans, and for exemplary teaching, mentoring and citizenship.

Bess B. Ward (1997) for pioneering applications of molecular methods to key conversions of nitrogen and methane, connecting per-cell rates within defined taxa to integrated rates in the field.

Robert E. Hecky (1996) for outstanding contributions to the biogeochemistry of lakes and reservoirs in North America and Africa, and his leadership in collaborative research and syntheses across the basic-applied continuum.

Farooq Azam (1995) in recognition of his seminal contributions to our knowledge of fundamental processes in the sea, and particularly for his central role in the development of the concept of the "microbial loop".

Peter A. Jumars (1994) for his outstanding work in biological oceanography, and particularly for his significant advances in understanding interactions among benthic organisms, sediments, and the physical environment.

Timothy R. Parsons (1993) in recognition of his achievements in combining chemistry with biology to make the ocean's ecology more predictable.

Robert G. Wetzel (1992) for studies of aquatic macrophytes,periphyton, and dissolved organic matter that have led to new understandings about the structure and function of lakes and wetland ecosystems.

Richard C. Dugdale (1991) in recognition of his work on nutrient uptake kinetics and his introduction of the concept of "new" and regenerated primary production.

W. Thomas Edmondson (1990) in recognition of his work on aquatic population dynamics and community structure.

Daniel A. Livingstone (1989) for his excellent record of research in limnology, paleolimnology, and paleoecology, focusing chiefly on Africa, though with a substantial component of study in North America.

Trevor Platt (1988) for outstanding contributions to developing the interface between the physics and biology of the ocean.

Lawrence R. Pomeroy (1987) in recognition of his clear thinking and leadership in studies of phosphorus and microbes in estuaries and oceans.

Eville Gorham (1986) for his outstanding contributions to research in precipitation chemistry, limnology, and wetlands ecology.

David W. Schindler (1985) for excellence in the field of chemical limnology, contributions to research on whole lake systems, and outstanding service as Director of the Canadian Experimental Lakes Area.

Richard W. Eppley (1984) in recognition of contributions to our knowledge of the nitrogen and carbon cycles and plankton dynamics of the oceans.

John E. Hobbie (1983) who has caused a revolution in our understanding of the importance of bacteria in natural waters, including the water column and the benthos, from ponds and lakes to estuaries and oceans.

Gene E. Likens (1982) A formal citation was not given for this first Award. Likens is best known for his long-term studies of acid rain, his long-term and collaborative research at Hubbard Brook on biogeochemical cycles in forested ecosystems, and for initiating and developing the Institute of Ecosystem Studies.

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