Marine Conservationist and Professor Ellen Pikitch Receives 2024 Lowell Thomas Award

Ellen Pikitch with The Explorers Club flag. Photo Credit: Taylor Griffith

Ellen K. Pikitch, a long-time professor in the Stony Brook University School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences (SoMAS), was recently awarded the Lowell Thomas Award for her accomplishments in science and communication.

Presented by The Explorers Club and named for broadcast journalist and explorer Lowell Thomas, this annual award is given thematically to a group of outstanding explorers to recognize excellence in domains or fields of exploration. Pikitch was nominated for this honor by explorer Sylvia Earle. Previous winners of the Lowell Thomas Award include such luminaries as Carl Sagan, Isaac Asimov, Kathy Sullivan, Sir Edmund Hillary, Kris Thompkinsocean con and E.O. Wilson.

"Professor Pikitch has worked tirelessly for decades on ocean conservation issues," said School of Marine and Atmospheric Studies Dean Paul Shepson. "How gratifying that her passion and dedication in service to the world's oceans has been recognized with this prestigious award."

Ellen Pikitch is an endowed professor of ocean conservation science and executive director of the Institute for Ocean Conservation Science. Her research primarily focuses on ocean conservation science, with emphasis on marine protected areas (MPAs), fish conservation and fisheries sustainability, ecosystem-based fishery management, and endangered fishes.

Throughout her career, Pikitch has endeavored in research activities both nationally and internationally. For seven years, Pikitch served in various roles at the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS). During this time, she built a program to encompass field research operations in 18 countries spanning four ocean basins and spearheaded several successful ocean policy campaigns for the organization. Most recently, Pikitch served as lead investigator behind launching an eco-friendly, solar-powered, remote-controlled craft that gathers data on the species living underwater, called The DataXplorer™. Internationally, Pikitch has lent a hand in crafting public policy as ocean science lead for the United Nations 10×20 Initiative and as Special Envoy to Palau. She is an active Fellow of The Explorers Club. Additionally, Pikitch is the recipient of several awards, including the Hope Spot Champion award, the Oscar E. Sette award, the Ocean Hero award and several notable fellowships.

Founded in 1904, The Explorers Club is a multidisciplinary, professional society dedicated to the advancement of field research, scientific exploration and resource conservation. Headquartered in New York City with a community of chapters and members around the world, The Explorers Club has been supporting scientific expeditions of all disciplines, uniting members in the bonds of good fellowship for more than a century.

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