Earthwatch has pleasure in announcing the winner of the second £6000 Aviva/ Earthwatch Award for Climate Change Research.
Earthwatch has pleasure in announcing the winner of the second Ł6000 Aviva/Earthwatch Award for Climate Change Research.
The award was given to Dr Peggy Rismiller at the Earthwatch Balloon Debate on Thursday 17 October. The award recognises Dr Rismiller’s ongoing work with the echidnas and goannas of Kangaroo Island, Australia.
Echidnas are among the strangest animals on earth; they lay eggs like reptiles, but protect their young in marsupial-like pouches; they also appear to slow their heartbeat and breathing at will. Echidnas belong to the oldest mammal group having survived 120 million years of global upheaval with very little evolutionary change. They are very adaptable and yet they have disappeared from portions of their natural ranges. Despite their resilience, echidnas and goannas continue to decline as external human impacts affect their habitat, which in turn influences local climate changes.
Dr Rismiller has been studying these unique creatures for fourteen years. Working with teams of Earthwatch volunteers, she has been monitoring the activities of these two key species in near-pristine habitats and in areas subjected to extensive land clearance. Removing vegetation changes microclimates and the climate, with huge implications for humans and wildlife. Echidnas and goannas are key indicators of the health of Australian ecosystems and Dr Rismiller has found that by re-establishing habitats we can encourage essential shelter and food for wildlife and yield positive results for the macroclimate of an entire area.
The grant from Aviva will be used to purchase equipment such as geophones, amplifiers and digital thermometers; this will enable Peggy and her researchers to identify, catalogue and monitor native invertebrates which are the primary food sources for echidnas and goannas and assess the microclimates in altered and unaltered habitats. Until now it has been difficult to document the progress of land restoration. The grant will enable Dr Rismiller to better understand the relationship between climate change, habitat and the survival of native species. With this data, she will be able to prove the case for re-vegetation and safeguard one of the world’s oldest surviving mammals.
Dr Rismiller said: “I am delighted to have won this award because it recognises the value of habitats as vital resources for planetary survival and acknowledges the significance of human impact on climate change. It will enable us to secure a better understanding of the big picture (habitat) through the echidna, a living, working model of sustainability. The Climate Change Award will allow us to explore and demonstrate the positive influences we can have for the future.”
Selection of the winning project was made by Earthwatch affiliates in Europe, Australia, Japan and the US and by Aviva in London. Applicants had to state how the additional funding would enable their projects to further existing research, how the research relates to climate change and how the research undertaken will have practical conservation impact.
Anthony Sampson, Director of Corporate Social Responsibility at Aviva, said: “Flooding around the world over the past 12 months provides a rude reminder of the intensifying challenges that face us this century as a result of climate change. As an insurer we have a natural interest in the subject and gladly support this Award for Climate Change Research, which helps to further illuminate our understanding of all aspects of climate change. Earthwatch adopts a vigorous, innovative approach to the promotion of sound and valuable science and Aviva is happy to support it in its quest."
Director of Science at Earthwatch Institute (Europe), Pamela Mackney commented: “Research has shown that the global average surface temperature has increased over the 20th century by about 0.6 percent and you need only to catalogue the number of droughts and floods in Africa and Asia respectively to realise that weather-related disasters have become increasingly common and serious. Climate change is no longer a theory but a real issue. However, scientists are still only just beginning to understand climate change and further research is needed. Earthwatch aims to help fulfil that need by providing support to scientists working in this research area, but, as a charity, it does not always have the resources to offer additional funding. This is why the funding provided by Aviva is so important. It enables Earthwatch scientists to expand on their research ideas so that they may continue to shed light on this important issue.”
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Editor's notes:
- The award was presented at the Earthwatch Balloon Debate, which took place at the Royal Geographical Society in London on Thursday 17 October at 7pm.
- Dr Peggy Rismiller is Principal Investigator for the Earthwatch ‘Echidnas and Goannas of Kangaroo Island’ Project and is a Visiting Research Fellow in Anatomical Sciences at the University of Adelaide. She is a world authority on echidnas and author of The Echidna: Australia’s Enigma.
- Aviva is the largest provider of life and pensions to Europe, the UK’s largest insurance group and has substantial positions in other markets around the world. Aviva is the world's seventh-largest insurer based on worldwide gross written premiums. Its main activities are long-term savings, fund management and general insurance. The group was created from the merger of CGU and Norwich Union in May 2000.
- Earthwatch Institute (Europe) is the European Affiliate of Earthwatch Institute, which is based in the USA and was founded in Boston in 1971. Earthwatch Institute has other Affiliate Offices in Australia and Japan. Earthwatch Institute (Europe) was registered as a UK charity in 1985 (number 327017) and opened its Oxford office in 1990.
- Since 1971 the worldwide organisation has recruited over 65,000 volunteers in support of 2,800 field research projects in 118 countries. These volunteers have contributed over 10 million hours to essential field work, and Earthwatch has raised over Ł35 million for scientific research and education projects.
- Earthwatch currently supports over 130 research projects in 45 countries by providing funds and paying volunteers. It offers members of the public opportunities to work as volunteers alongside leading field scientists and researchers. No special skills are required (except scuba certification for diving projects).
- Earthwatch supports scientific field research and environmental education in order to generate the information, understanding and motivation necessary for sustainable conservation of our natural resources and cultural heritage.
- Earthwatch is a leading supporter of experiential environmental education. Almost 10,000 students and teachers have benefited from direct field research experience. The African Fellowship Programme has helped to train over 600 African scientists and conservationists and the Millennium Award Scheme is sending over 400 over-50s from the UK on field projects worldwide. Earthwatch also develops innovative education programmes for the corporate sector aimed at building awareness and understanding of cultural and environmental issues.
- Earthwatch volunteers pay to participate or receive grant-assisted places. Prices range from Ł46.50 to Ł2199 and project teams range from three to twenty days. The price paid is a charitable donation, which funds the research work. Accommodation and food is included in most cases, but flights are extra.
- Earthwatch members receive: a complimentary copy of the Research & Exploration Guide detailing forthcoming field projects for volunteers; quarterly publications, including the annual report, newsletter and journals; invitations to events and special membership prices on selected projects. UK membership costs Ł30 pa.
- Website: http://www.earthwatch.org/europe
- Aviva: http://www.aviva.com
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