Frontiers Planet Prize in Aotearoa New Zealand

We have partnered with the Frontiers Research Foundation, based in Switzerland, as part of an international effort to accelerate scientific solutions to planetary challenges. In 2022, the Foundation established the Frontiers Planet Prize, with the ambition of mobilising scientists to address the ongoing global environmental crisis.

The prize is based on the nine planetary boundaries detailed by Professor Johan Rockström and described in the book Breaking Boundaries. 

To participate, research organisations must first register your organisation as a National Nominating Body by 27 September 2024. Up to three scientists from each organisation will be nominated.  Fellows of the Society will select three from New Zealand who will go on to be considered by the international Frontiers Prize jury.

In 2023, the Society received ten nominations from seven organisations, and submitted three to the international jury. Last year’s National Champion for Aotearoa was Dr Rebecca Gladstone-Gallagher, from the University of Auckland, for her research on ‘Social–ecological connections across land, water, and sea demand a reprioritization of environmental management’, published in Elementa: Science of the Anthropocene in 2023. The other two finalists selected for New Zealand were Dr Kristin Bohm, from ESR, for a paper on ‘Black Soldier Fly-based bioconversion of biosolids creates high-value products with low heavy metal concentrations’, and Dr Suzanne Rowe, from AgResearch, for a paper titled ‘Can we have our steak and eat it: The impact of breeding for lowered environmental impact on yield and meat quality in sheep'.

Eligibility:

Scientists from all disciplines are eligible, as long as their articles were accepted for publication in a peer-reviewed journal in the two years prior to 31 October of the current year. Their research must also have the potential to generate breakthroughs that could be scaled up as solutions to global environmental challenges. 

Each nominated scientist must have published an article that has the potential to reduce or reverse the current imbalances in human interactions with planetary systems such as climate, fresh water, and oceans.

Selection process:

Our Academy of Fellows will select up to three scientists from those nominated by research organisations within Aotearoa that have registered as National Nominating Bodies.

An international Frontiers Prize jury will select one National Champion from each country, who will gain the opportunity to present and discuss their research on the international stage, and to engage in transdisciplinary collaboration with other leaders in this field.

The jury will then select three International Champions, who will each receive 1 million Swiss francs to support their continuing research, as well as worldwide exposure for their research. The international jury includes one academic from New Zealand: Professor Bronwyn Hayward MNZM FRSNZ from the University of Canterbury.

Current status

Acceptance of nominations is a two-stage process:

First Register your organisation as a National Nominating Body with Frontier Planet Prize until 27 September 2024.

These organisations have already registered:

• AgResearch Ltd l Āta Mātai, Mātai Whetū
• Auckland University of Technology (AUT) l Te Wānanga Aronui o Tāmaki Makau Rau
• GNS Science l Te Pū Ao
• Institute of Environmental Science and Research (ESR) l He Pūtaiao, He Tāngata
• Nga Pae o te Maramatanga Centre of Research Excellence
• Te Wananga o Aotearoa
• University of Auckland l Waipapa Taumata Rau
• University of Canterbury l Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha
• University of Waikato l Te Whare Wānanga o Waikato
• Victoria University of Wellington l Te Herenga Waka
   

How to apply:

Second stage: Up to three nominations from each registered National Nominating Body can be submitted to Royal Society Te Apārangi between 1 October and 1 November 2024.

Please email your nominations to International.Applications@royalsociety.org.nz    

If you have any other questions, please contact Michelle Wickens on International.Applications@royalsociety.org.nz