2020 Premi Ramon Margalef d’Ecologia#

Presentation#

Ecology is a relatively young science whose object is the study of the relationships between organisms and their environments. As such a science, it is based on a body of knowledge obtained from the study of natural phenomena in the field or in the laboratory, often at a microscopic or mesoscopic scale, thus generating a reductionist approach to it which is consubstantial with modern science. Moreover, ecology has also enjoyed a holistic, macroscopic approach, one embracing the workings of the entire biosphere and its ecosystems.

Professor Ramon Margalef i López (Barcelona, 1919-2004) was one of the first researchers and thinkers in the frame of this ecology, at once reductionist and holistic, that has its roots in pure science and has become essential to understand the way the world works and to solve environmental problems. His scientific and intellectual work, of the first magnitude, Presentació Presentación encompasses the fields of aquatic ecology (limnology and oceanography, especially plankton ecology) and theoretical ecology. With his work he made a decisive contribution to establishing modern ecological science to the point where he is regarded as one of the leading exponents in the world.

Ramon Margalef was also one of the first ecologists who understood that the human species is just a species of the biosphere, with a huge impact on the environment, but dependent on it like the rest of the species of its natural environment.

All this explains why, in 2004, the Government of Catalonia established the Premi Ramon Margalef d’Ecologia, to honor the scientist and to acknowledge people or groups from around the world who have distinguished themselves in an exceptional way in the field of ecological science.

Rules#

1 The aim of the Premi Ramon Margalef d’Ecologia is to recognize an exceptional scientific career or discovery in the field of ecological science that has contributed to significant progress in scientific knowledge or thought, or to the development of theoretical instruments for the good management of natural resources on land or in the sea.

2 The Prize may be awarded either to individuals or to legal persons or groups from all over the world that have made significant contributions to the development of the ecological sciences.

3 Candidatures must be submitted by university institutions, superior schools, research centers or scientific academies or have science divisions and other institutions of similar purpose, by persons who have been awarded the Prize or by persons who have been members of the Jury. Exceptionally, candidatures submitted by persons with an acknowledged prestige in the field of ecology will also be admitted.

Candidatures, which must be argued (with a maximum of 5 letters) and must be accompanied by a curriculum vitae, should be presented preferably through the electronic means of gencat Procedures (tramits.gencat.cat). However, they can be presented in paper format, addressed to the Department of the Presidency (Carrer Sant Honorat, 1-3, 08002 Barcelona). The deadline for submitting proposals is May 15, 2020.

Once presented, candidatures must be considerated in two more calls (three in total), except if the proposer explicity says his candidature not to be considered again.

4 The Prize is endowed with an award of eighty thousand (80,000) euros and a unique and symbolic trophy dedicated to the memory of Ramon Margalef.

5 The Prize is awarded annually.

6 The Jury, assisted by the non-voting Secretary, will decide the winning candidature by majority. The Jury’s decision shall be final.

7 The winner will be announced by the Management Board. The Prize will be awarded at a ceremony in Barcelona.

Jury#

Chairperson

Joandomènec Ros
Professor, Department of Ecology, University of Barcelona; President, Institute for Catalan Studies
(Barcelona, Spain)

Members#

Pep Canadell
Executive Director, Global Carbon
Project; research scientist, Marine and Atmospheric Research, CSIRO
(Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation)
(Canberra, Australia)

Jordi Catalan
Research professor, CREAF (Center for Ecological Research and Forest
Applications), Autonomous University of Barcelona
(Bellaterra, Spain)

Sandra Díaz
Research professor, Multidisciplinary Institute of Plant Biology, National Council of Scientific and Technical Research
(Córdoba, Argentina)

Thomas Kiorboe
Research professor, National Institute of Aquatic Resources, Technical University of Denmark (Kongens Lyngby, Denmark)

Wim van der Putten
Head, Department of Terrestrial Ecology, Netherlands Institute of Ecology(NIOO-KNAW)
(Wageningen, The Netherlands)

Montserrat Vilà
Research professor, Doñana Biological Station (EBD-CSIC)
(Seville, Spain)

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