Zuzana Buřivalová Wins 2026 Pritzker Environmental Genius Award for Bioacoustic Forest Conservation

Los Angeles — The UCLA Institute of the Environment and Sustainability (IoES) has named Zuzana Buřivalová, an associate professor at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, the 2026 recipient of the Pritzker Emerging Environmental Genius Award, a $100,000 prize honoring environmental innovators under the age of 40.

The award was presented as UCLA celebrated the prize’s 10th anniversary, marking a decade of identifying environmental changemakers early in their careers and giving them recognition, resources and a platform to advance their work. The announcement was made on October 9, 2026.

Why the Pritzker Environmental Genius Award went to sound

Buřivalová is the principal investigator of the Sound Forest Lab and has pioneered the use of bioacoustics — listening to the sounds produced by forest ecosystems — to understand the health and biodiversity of tropical forests. By analyzing the soundscape of a forest, her research informs conservation in places and at scales where traditional field methods are difficult to apply, effectively giving biodiversity a voice through bioacoustic tracking and reporting.

“This award will enable me to bring our soundscapes from the Sound Forest Lab to new ears, pushing the conservational impact of our work to new heights,” said Buřivalová, according to the official announcement.

Healthy tropical forests are among the planet’s most important carbon sinks, and their soundscapes — birdsong, insects, mammals — are fast indicators of ecological change. Turning sound into conservation data is a new tool in the climate fight, and the award puts it on a global stage.

The 2026 finalists

Buřivalová was selected from three finalists described by UCLA as representing ambitious, interdisciplinary environmental leadership:

Doris Njagi

Njagi is the founder of Forest Restored, an organization working to restore native forests across East Africa while creating economic opportunities for smallholder farmers. Her model enables farmers to grow native trees while contributing to the recovery of natural habitats, showing how restoration can support both ecosystems and the communities that depend on them.

Suzanne Pierre, Ph.D.

Pierre is a microbial ecologist and the founder and lead investigator of the Critical Ecology Lab. She researches the intersection of global ecological change, social justice and the liberation of oppressed peoples, bringing together ecological research and community-centered approaches.

A decade of environmental genius

The Pritzker Emerging Environmental Genius Award was established by the Anthony Pritzker Family Foundation and is administered by UCLA IoES. Since 2017 it has recognized nine winners, 21 finalists and 133 nominees from around the world — including TIME 100 honorees and Earthshot Prize winners — with work spanning six continents, from conservation and climate action to clean energy and Indigenous stewardship.

“We are so impressed by all three of the finalists that the award process has highlighted,” said Tony Pritzker, according to the announcement. “Each year, choosing one winner becomes more difficult, and this year is no exception.”

“For 10 years, the Pritzker Award has allowed UCLA to recognize emerging environmental leaders from around the world and give their work a broader platform,” said Alex Hall, director of the Institute of the Environment and Sustainability.

Related climate-champion coverage: Six young climate champions honored with the 2026 Brower Youth Awards. See also Watan News’ climate coverage.

FAKTA

• Winner: Zuzana Buřivalová, associate professor at the University of Wisconsin–Madison and principal investigator of the Sound Forest Lab
• Prize: $100,000 Pritzker Emerging Environmental Genius Award for environmental innovators under 40, announced October 9, 2026
• Administered by: UCLA Institute of the Environment and Sustainability; established by the Anthony Pritzker Family Foundation
• Finalists: Doris Njagi (Forest Restored, East Africa) and Suzanne Pierre, Ph.D. (Critical Ecology Lab)
• Since 2017: 9 winners, 21 finalists and 133 nominees from six continents