Patricia Wright Earns Lifetime Achievement Award from the International Primatological Society
Stony Brook University Distinguished Service Professor Patricia Wright has been selected for a Lifetime Achievement Award by the International Primatological Society (IPS), recognizing her extensive work in the field of lemur research and protection and her efforts in the areas of primatological and conservation science.
Wright, a professor in the Department of Anthropology in Stony Brook’s College of Arts and Sciences, is also founder and executive director of the Centre ValBio international research station in Madagascar. She will be honored at the IPS Annual Congress in Madagascar on July 24, and will provide a lecture entitled, “Research and Conservation of the World’s Most Endangered Mammals: Engaging Communities and Protecting Lemurs,” where she will share her experiences in her primatological career and her passion for tropical biology.
Wright will speak specifically about some of her accomplishments, including the discovery of the golden bamboo lemur; the establishment of the Ranomafana National Park; the completion of the Madagascar Environmental Action Plan; the delineation of World Heritage Sites for the Eastern Rainforest National Parks; the inauguration of the Centre ValBio Research Station; the discovery and exploration of Ivohiboro, the lost rainforest; and most importantly, the dynamic and steadfast team of Malagasy and international researchers and students that she’s had the opportunity to collaborate with throughout her career.
“I’m so pleased Pat is being recognized with this award. A beloved professor and colleague, Pat is generous with her expertise and is a tremendous asset to our strong Department of Anthropology,” said Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost Carl W. Lejuez. “Her dedication to unravelling and protecting the mysteries of Madagascar is almost as unique as the island nation itself. She has empowered a generation of international scientists, engaged local communities, and created a national park and heritage site. She is truly deserving of this lifetime achievement award, as she has dedicated her life to this work.”
Following her lecture, a symposium — “From Lemurs to Landscapes: Celebrating Dr. Patricia Wright’s Legacy in Conservation, Primatology and Public Health” — will commemorate her decades-long dedication to understanding and preserving Madagascar’s unique primates, as well as highlight her seminal work in primate behavior and ecology, by featuring talks by esteemed colleagues, collaborators, and students.
These presentations will showcase foundational and innovative research inspired by Professor Wright’s work and mentorship, including studies on primate behavior and the effects of climate change on tropical ecosystems. Talks will also delve into her instrumental role in the creation of Madagascar’s Ranomafana National Park, the globally recognized model for community-based conservation, her long-term ecological field studies of Propithecus edwardsi and other lemur species, and her pioneering research on the behavior of nocturnal primates.
“I’m thrilled to be chosen for this award and it’s wonderful to receive this honor at the IPS Congress in Madagascar,” said Professor Wright. “I’m happy that so many of my students will be at the IPS meetings and we will celebrate together!”
The International Primatological Society Congress is a cornerstone event in the field of primatology that brings together leading scientists, conservationists, educators, and policymakers from around the globe to discuss and advance primate research and conservation efforts.
The International Primatological Society was created to encourage all areas of non-human primatological scientific research, to facilitate cooperation among scientists of all nationalities engaged in primate research, and to promote the conservation of all primate species. The Society is organized exclusively for scientific, educational and charitable purposes.