Families for Nature announces the winners of the 4th Scientists for Nature Challenge 2026
Families for Nature Announces the Winners of the 4th Scientists for Nature Challenge 2026
During the 75th Anniversary of the Lindau Nobel Laureate Meetings, we had the privilege of hosting the fourth edition of the Scientists for Nature Challenge – "A Quantum Leap for Biodiversity."
Over the past months, scientists from more than 25 countries submitted pioneering ideas to help protect and restore nature. Following an international selection process, six outstanding finalists were invited to present their projects to members of the Families for Nature Network of scientists, entrepreneurs, philanthropists, families and investors.
After inspiring presentations and thoughtful discussions, our distinguished Science Panel - Prof. David Coomes (University of Cambridge), Prof. Nathalie Seddon (University of Oxford) and Dr. Aline Sotteroni (University of Oxford) - together with the votes of participants, selected the winners of the 2026 Scientists for Nature Challenge.
Main Prize Winners
Dr. Nader Marzban Leibniz Institute for Agricultural Engineering and Bioeconomy (ATB), Germany Artificial Peat Technology
Anna Faber The University of Western Australia Nature's Fastest Growing Organism
Dr. Soressa Abera Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Germany Closing the Carbon Nitrogen Loop
Runners-Up
Nicole Foster Centre for Advanced Studies of Blanes (CEAB-CSIC), Spain Scaling Blue Carbon Restoration
Arsenii Hordeichyk Technical University of Munich (TUM), Germany SoilSeed
Ching Lam Choi Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), USA Listening Beyond the Human
We congratulate all six finalists.
Scientists for Nature Challenge is more than a competition - Together with our global network of scientists, entrepreneurs, philanthropists, families and investors, we look forward to supporting the finalists as they continue to develop and scale their proposals.
If you would like to learn more about the finalists and their projects, the Scientists for Nature Challenge, or the Families for Nature Network, we would be delighted to hear from you https://familiesfornature.org/get-involved
Families for Nature is the trusted network of families, family members, foundations, family offices, and entrepreneurs committed to nature.
Scientists for Nature brings together outstanding young researchers and experienced academic leaders who share one mission: to protect and restore Nature through science, collaboration, and concrete action.