2021

On the coast of Argentina, Dr. Dee Boersma is always up for the task, from health evaluations to hauling the lava rock vital for artificial penguin nests. Magellanic penguins — about 400,000 of them — have her to thank for their thriving colony. She has spent more than 30 years protecting them from oil spills, habitat loss and road construction planned through nesting sites. *Honored individuals for the 2020 Indianapolis Prize shifted in reference to 2021 Indianapolis Prize Winner, Finalists and Nominees due to COVID-19 pandemic shifting future awards.

Dr. Christophe Boesch fought to ensure a safe future for chimpanzees. Christophe uncovered the effects of rapid deforestation across Sub-Saharan Africa, promoted new areas for protecting the remaining chimpanzee populations in Guinea, and studied chimpanzees to better understand culture, hunting, tool use, and the species’ similarities to humans. *Honored individuals for the 2020 Indianapolis Prize shifted in reference to 2021 Indianapolis Prize Winner, Finalists and Nominees due to COVID-19 pandemic shifting future awards.