Overview

The Alliance of World Scientists’ (AWS) Planet Earth Award acknowledges individuals who champion life on Earth. These individuals demonstrate exceptional creativity or contributions in their work in science-based advocacy with the public, policymakers, or other non-scientist groups seeking solutions to environmental challenges. The award will recognize individual people or be shared by two or more people.

Selection criteria

The recipient (or recipients) of the award will be a scientist who meets at least the first criterion:

  1. [Required] Engaged in applied science or science-based advocacy with other scientists, the public, policymakers, or other non-scientist groups about one or more environmental challenges.
  2. [Optional] Demonstrates exceptional creativity, contributions, or impact in their  work.
  3. [Optional] Their work and outcomes are grounded in justice or related ideas

Science advocacy can take many forms, including public outreach and education, policy advocacy, community engagement, conducting applied science, defending scientific integrity, and support for research and innovation. It seeks to bridge the gap between the scientific community and the broader public, encouraging dialogue, understanding, and support for scientific endeavors.

Nomination procedure

We use a three-step nomination process:

  1. Send in a nomination letter of no more than 1 page that describes the nominee and addresses at least the first selection criterion as an email to: scientistswarning@oregonstate.edu (no self-nominations are accepted).
  2. Submitted nomination letters will be evaluated and ranked by a committee of AWS members.
  3. Full nomination packets will be solicited from those nomination letters that are placed on a short-list of finalists.

We seek nominations of individuals who work or have impacts anywhere in the world and at any scale (local to global). Our goal is to empower people by recognizing their work, and as such, we encourage nominations of people representing underserved populations.

The Award

We will share information about the winner(s) and their work with AWS members and the public, in the form of an award page and possibly a press release.

 2025 Laureates

Man in a light blue button-up shirt with rolled-up sleeves stands with hands clasped, smiling. Bookshelves and abstract artwork form the blurred background, creating a cozy, intellectual atmosphere.
Prof. Mike Berners-Lee
United Kingdom

Prof. Mike Berners-Lee thinks, writes, researches and consults on sustainability and responses to the challenges of the twenty-first century. He is a professor at Lancaster University where his research includes carbon metrics, the global food system and the impact of technology. He is the founder of Small World Consulting, which works with organisations of every size to address the challenges of the Anthropocene. His latest book, A Climate of Truth, takes both a big-picture and deep-dive approach to the polycrisis, exploring our failures so far in order to uncover the point of greatest leverage for those seeking change. His other best-selling books include How Bad Are Bananas? The Carbon Footprint of Everything and There Is No Planet B: A Handbook for the Make-or-Break Years. Learn more about Prof. Mike Berners-Lee. See press release for details.

A man in a dark blazer and blue shirt is sitting and holding a microphone. He is smiling and looking to the side. The background is dark and blurry, suggesting an indoor setting.
Dr. Michael E. Mann
United States

Dr. Michael E. Mann is a Presidential Distinguished Professor of Earth and Environmental Science at the University of Pennsylvania, with a secondary appointment in the Annenberg School for Communication. He directs the Penn Center for Science, Sustainability, and the Media. A leading climate scientist, Mann is known for his “hockey stick” graph showing the sharp rise in global temperatures over the past century. His work has advanced understanding of human-induced climate change and the need for action to mitigate its effects. He has received numerous honors, including the Award for Public Engagement with Science and the Tyler Prize for Environmental Achievement. In 2020, he was elected to the U.S. National Academy of Sciences, and in 2024, to the Royal Society. His upcoming book, Science Under Siege, is co-authored with Peter Hotez. Learn more about Dr. Michael E. Mann. See press release for details.

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Dr. Katherine Richardson
Denmark

Dr. Katherine Richardson is a professor in biological oceanography at the University of Copenhagen who, for more than three decades, has actively contributed to the development of Earth system science. She is one of the main architects behind the “planetary boundaries” framework and led the 2023 update that now has been downloaded over half a million times. She is active at the science-policy and science-society interfaces and chaired the Commission that produced a plan for how Denmark can be independent of fossil fuels. She was a member of the Independent Group of Scientists that prepared the 2019 UN Global Sustainable Development Report and currently chairs the High-level EU Expert group on the economic and societal impact of research and innovation (ESIR). Learn more about Dr. Katherine Richardson. See press release for details.

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Dr. Walfrido Moraes Tomas
Brazil

Dr. Walfrido Moraes Tomas has been a researcher at the Embrapa Pantanal Research Center in Brazil since 1990, where he has published over 200 articles, chapters, and books on topics including wildlife conservation, biodiversity management, landscape ecology, sustainability indicators, impact evaluation, and public policy. His major research projects have focused on sustainable ranching practices and combating wetland caiman poaching in Brazil. In addition to his academic contributions, Dr. Tomas plays an active role in shaping Brazilian environmental legislation, particularly at the federal and state levels. He also represents Brazil at the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), where he advocates for biodiversity indicators for agricultural landscapes, working to integrate environmental sustainability with agricultural practices at an international scale. Learn more about Dr. Walfrido Moraes Tomas

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Dr. Flora Vincent
Germany

Dr. Flora Vincent is a marine scientist and group leader at the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) in Heidelberg, Germany. Her research focuses on microbial interactions, such as symbiosis and viral infection, and their effects on phytoplankton, which are key to the ocean food web. She combines laboratory experiments with ocean expeditions, developing single-cell approaches in microbial ecology. Dr. Vincent coordinated major scientific efforts, including the ‘Gayoso’ expedition on coccolithophore blooms off Argentina and the 15-month TREC expedition involving over 150 EU scientists to collect metadata across coastal gradients. A core member of the Plankton Manifesto editorial team, she fosters international collaboration on climate change and inspires the next generation through initiatives like the Tara Foundation educational programme and children’s literature. Learn more about Dr. Flora Vincent. See press release for details.