Ten Honored by the Heinz Awards

One of the great strengths of the environmental movement is its thriving grassroots—people from all walks of life who work to make the world cleaner. But there are also those few on the forefront of the movement, helping to push it along. Ten such individuals have been honored by the 15th annual Heinz Awards, which this year focused solely on those working to "bring about a cleaner, greener, and more sustainable planet."

Recipients included Christopher B. Field, an academic working on climate-change modeling; Chip Giller, a journalist who started the popular website Grist; and Joel Salatin, the “grass farmer” from Michael Pollan’s The Omnivore’s Dilemma. Each recipient received $100,000 in honor of their work. The full list from the Heinz Family Foundation is after the jump.

Robert Berkebile, 72, BNIM Architects (Kansas City, Mo.)
For his green-building advocacy and promotion of sustainable design and planning.
 
P. Dee Boersma, Ph.D., 62, University of Washington (Seattle, Wash.)
For developing greater understanding of the impact of humans on marine ecosystems. 
 
Christopher B. Field, Ph.D., 56, Carnegie Institution of Science and Stanford University (Stanford, Calif.)
For his leadership and innovation in climate-change modeling.
 
Ashok Gadgil, Ph.D., 66, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, (Berkeley, Calif.)
For his work as an inventor and humanitarian.
 
Chip Giller, 38, Grist (Seattle, Wash.)
For creating an innovative outlet for delivering environmental information to new audiences.
 
Deborah Rice, Ph.D., 61, Maine Department of Health and Human Services
Environmental and Occupational Health (Augusta, Maine)
For research yielding new understanding about exposure to toxins during human development.
 
Joel Salatin, 52, Polyface Farm (Swoope, Va.)
For creating alternative, environmentally friendly farming techniques.
 
Kirk R. Smith, Ph.D., 62, University of California, Berkeley, (Berkeley, Calif.)
For exposing the relationship between indoor air fuel use and public health.
 
Thomas Smith, 59, Public Citizen – Texas (Austin, Texas)
For his advocacy of wind and solar energy efficiency.
 
Beverly H. Wright, Ph.D., 61, Deep South Center for Environmental Justice (New Orleans, La.)
For her work as an environmental-justice advocate.

--Kyle Boelte