Dr. John Fryxell is this year’s winner of the Weston Family Ecosystem Research Award.
Fryxell is former chair of the Integrative Biology department at the University of Guelph and has won the award for his applied which helped the world better understand the interaction of biodiversity and natural systems on agricultural lands,” said Emma Adamo, Chair of the Weston Family Foundation.“
In announcing the award, the foundation said “he, his students and fellow researchers have taken their scientific inquiries to three continents, pursuing a deeper understanding of boreal ecology, aquatic and terrestrial food web dynamics and biodiversity.
“Of particular merit for the award, Dr. Fryxell and his collaborators have conducted research throughout Southern Ontario, working with local ALUS (Alternative Land Use Services) programs to understand how ecosystem projects interact with biodiversity and natural systems on agricultural lands.
“The breadth of Dr. Fryxell’s research is what makes it significant. Dr. Fryxell and his fellow researchers have contributed to a richer understanding of the biological mechanisms that help us sustain the ecosystems and biodiversity that sustains human societies.”
Fryxell said “a lot of the work that I’ve been engaged in has become increasingly oriented around an equitable trade off between the needs of humans and the needs of nature.
“Despite the fact that we’ve been harvesting nature for eons, we’re still not really clear about all the essential contributors that help produce a healthy landscape, and there are many actors that provide some assistance in often hidden ways.”
The university said the award is for more than his work, but “it’s about bringing attention to the ways that research is a broad undertaking, a collaborative effort with extensive value for society.”
