“Acceptance Speech” Frontiers of Knowledge Award 2022 in Ecology and Conservation Biology

Acceptance speech by Steward T. A. Pickett, winner of the 2022 Frontiers of Knowledge Award in Ecology and Conservation Biology, who was honored alongside Lenore Fahrig and Simon Levin for their fundamental contributions to spatial ecology. His research has advanced the field of urban ecology by integrating humans as components of ecosystems and connecting ecological knowledge with sustainable urban design and biodiversity conservation.

Pickett reviews nearly five decades of research on spatial heterogeneity and ecosystem dynamics, from his early studies of vegetation to the development of new approaches to urban ecology. He explains the evolution of the concepts of ecology in, of and with cities, incorporating collaboration with communities, policymakers and specialists from other disciplines. He also advocates environmental justice as a fundamental principle for addressing the

Acceptance speech by Steward T. A. Pickett, winner of the 2022 Frontiers of Knowledge Award in Ecology and Conservation Biology, who was honored alongside Lenore Fahrig and Simon Levin for their fundamental contributions to spatial ecology. His research has advanced the field of urban ecology by integrating humans as components of ecosystems and connecting ecological knowledge with sustainable urban design and biodiversity conservation.

Pickett reviews nearly five decades of research on spatial heterogeneity and ecosystem dynamics, from his early studies of vegetation to the development of new approaches to urban ecology. He explains the evolution of the concepts of ecology in, of and with cities, incorporating collaboration with communities, policymakers and specialists from other disciplines. He also advocates environmental justice as a fundamental principle for addressing the challenges of urbanization and climate change, while acknowledging the importance of his mentors and colleagues throughout his scientific career.