iNaturalist has been awarded the prestigious 29th Heinz Award for the Environment! This award celebrates innovative solutions to environmental challenges, and iNaturalist’s community science platform has provided just that—mobilising millions of people to engage with nature and contribute over 200 million records for science. These contributions have helped document species, inform conservation strategies, and enhance our collective understanding of the natural world.
The award formally recognises iNaturalist co-founder Ken-ichi Ueda and Executive Director Dr. Scott Loarie, but they want to emphasise that this award honours iNaturalist and was made possible by the efforts of the incredible iNaturalist community and staff.
“Ken-ichi and I are humbled to accept this award on behalf of iNaturalist,” said Scott Loarie. “All credit goes to the millions of nature explorers and expert naturalists who’ve shared their expertise, will, and passion on iNaturalist and to our incredible team. We’re so grateful to see iNaturalist honored as an example of the great things we can accomplish when we work together.”
Since its inception in 2008, iNaturalist has played a critical role in driving conservation efforts worldwide. Observations from its global community have been used in more than 5,000 scientific publications, contributing to the discovery of new species, tracking the impact of climate change, and shaping biodiversity policies globally. Since becoming an independent nonprofit in July 2023, the number of verifiable observations has grown by over 50%.
“There are over a million species at risk of extinction this century, and the solution hinges upon two critical factors: an engaged public that cares and a robust data set to drive smart conservation decisions. That’s why our team is passionate about this work,” Loarie states.
Dr. Carrie Seltzer, Head of Engagement, remarks,
“The iNaturalist team set out to create a tool that would make exploring nature more accessible for everyone, and today we’re proud to see how this community has become essential to understanding the current state of biodiversity. I like to call us a ‘force for nature’ and this recognition from the Heinz Family Foundation fuels our ambition to continue growing this movement.”
The power of iNaturalist lies in its diverse and generous community. With members ranging from high school students and retirees to scientists and land managers, the platform thrives on participation from people of all walks of life.
“Through iNaturalist, Scott and Ken-ichi are advancing citizen science at a remarkable scale, enabling people from all walks of life, communities and backgrounds to connect with the wonder of nature,” says Teresa Heinz, Chairman of the Heinz Family Foundation. “Through their work, they inspire us to embrace curiosity, to be active participants in discovery and to pay attention to the remarkable diversity of life that is all around us, regardless of where we live. We honor Scott and Ken-ichi for creating a platform that not only welcomes everyone to contribute to our collective knowledge of biodiversity, but one that is also a model for public discourse, camaraderie and respectful engagement. These are qualities my late husband, John Heinz, exemplified in his life and work, and that we celebrate through the Heinz Awards each year.”
Past recipients of the Heinz Award include the founder of environmental journalism site Mongabay, the founder of Outdoor Afro, as well as environmental scientists such as Gretchen Daily and Jane Lubchenco, and innovators such as Steve Wozniak.
Becoming an Even Greater Force for Nature
Looking ahead, iNaturalist will use the $250,000 award to invest in making the platform more engaging and improving data quality.
“We’re just getting started,” said Loarie. “By 2030, we hope to build a global movement for nature, capable of advocating for, monitoring, and protecting species worldwide. The Heinz Award for the Environment is a huge milestone on this journey that we hope will energize and inspire the iNaturalist community.”
iNaturalistUK
iNaturalistUK is a partnership between the NBN Trust, the Marine Biological Association and the Biological Records Centre. You can read more about this on our iNaturalistUK information pages.