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Youth Environmental
Science Medal
The Youth Environmental Science (YES) Medal is presented annually in recognition of a significant contribution to youth learning as citizen environmental scientists.
The Medal is presented to the recipient at an appropriate science, education, or environmental conference and is accompanied by a $10,000 grant to an organization of the recipient’s choosing to further the organization’s work consistent with the objectives of YLACES.
Past and present YES Medal recipients
2024 Recipient
The 2024 YES Medal will go to Elena Sparrow of the University of Alaska Fairbanks. In her many roles today and throughout her long career, Dr. Sparrow has significantly contributed to student environmental research in Arctic ecosystems and has strengthened the GLOBE Program in Alaska and throughout the world.
2019 Recipient
Maura Duffy, Conservation Project Manager at National Aquarium in Baltimore, has made a significant impact on environmental education in Baltimore and throughout Maryland through her work with the National Aquarium.
2016/2017 Recipient
ESRI was awarded the 2016/2017 Youth Environmental Science Medal for its work to bring the analytical power of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to classrooms and empower students to do spatial analyses.
2014 Recipient
Dr. Rock's research focuses on the impact of air pollutants on forest species, utilizing Earth-orbiting satellite data and ground-based reflectance measurements.
2020 Recipient
Conversation with David Padgett and Dixon Butler
David A. Padgett, Associate Professor of Geography and Director of the Geographic and Information Sciences Laboratory at Tennessee State University, was named the winner of the 2020 YES Medal.
2018 Recipient
As CBF’s Vice President for Education, Tom works with an incredibly talented and passionate team, conducting the most compelling programs for students, teachers, and leaders in the field.
2015 Recipient
Rick Bonney of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology was selected as the winner of the 2015 Youth Environmental Science Medal. Underlying Rick’s work are his efforts to understand the social and learning outcomes of various models of public participation in science.