Raincoast Ocean Science Awards

Photo by Raincoast Conservation Foundation, SARA Research License XMMS-2-2022.

2025 awardees

Big congratulations to last year’s Raincoast Ocean Science Awards awardees!

Doug Neasloss: The Newman Award for Excellence in Conservation and Research
Isobel Pearsall: The North Award for Lifetime Contribution to Ocean Conservation
Kiara Kattler: The Raincoast Student Award
Marine Education and Research Society: The Nightingale Bursary in Ocean Engagement

2026 award nominations

The nominations for the 2026 awards will open in the spring of 2026. You can subscribe to our bimonthly newsletter to stay up to date on the nomimations.

The Raincoast Ocean Science Awards celebrate outstanding achievements by individuals and groups striving to protect marine habitats through science, Indigenous Knowledge systems, and public engagement.

SV Achiever in the open ocean with a double rainbow overtop. — Photo by John Kelsey.

A long history

These awards have celebrated ocean conservation in British Columbia since their establishment in 1995 as the Murray A. Newman Awards at the Vancouver Aquarium. In 2023, Raincoast took over hosting the event and is proud to be continuing this legacy that aligns closely with our mission. For over 25 years, we have applied a unique model of informed advocacy to safeguard the lands, waters, and wildlife of coastal BC. All of our projects are rooted in rigorous, peer-reviewed research and science, and informed by community engagement. These awards celebrate individuals and groups committed to the same mission. Read more about the history of awardees.

Four awards celebrating ocean science in Canada

The Newman Award for Excellence in Conservation and Research is presented to an individual, team, or organization for significant work and/or an entire career of leading contributions in ocean research and/or conservation. This award honours the founding President of the Vancouver Aquarium, a longstanding advocate of aquatic sciences, education, and conservation.

The North Award for Lifetime Contribution to Ocean Conservation is granted to an individual whose lifelong commitment to ocean conservation provides an example to all. The award is named to honour Rudy North, a passionate supporter of ocean science and conservation.

The Raincoast Student Award, formerly known as the Michael Bigg Student Award, recognizes outstanding research undertaken by graduate students and provides $2,000 in support of their work.

The Nightingale Award in Ocean Engagement provides an opportunity for individuals or organizations to make an impact in safeguarding the world’s oceans through engagement activities that harness knowledge and science. This $25,000 bursary supports initiatives that inspire, educate, and engage the public in advancing ocean conservation. The bursary honours Dr. John Nightingale, ocean defender and former President and CEO of the Vancouver Aquarium Marine Science Centre and founder of the conservation organization Ocean Wise.

Overhead photo of a humpback whale surfacing. — Photo by Raincoast Conservation Foundation, taken under SARA Research License XMMS-2-2022.

2026 Ocean Awards Sponsorship (PDF)Download

Stand with excellence

By sponsoring the Raincoast Ocean Science Awards, you demonstrate your commitment to protecting coastal ecosystems, while gaining visibility among an engaged audience of environmental leaders, scientists, philanthropists, and change makers.

Sponsor the 2026 Raincoast Ocean Science Awards

Nominations for the Raincoast Ocean Science Awards

You can nominate an individual or group for an award by completing our online form, when it is available.

All applications and nominations will be reviewed by a selection committee, with decades of experience in aspects pertaining to ocean research, conservation, and habitat restoration.

Recipients from past awards include David Suzuki, Paul Paquet, Daniel Pauly, Cristina Mittermeier, Brian E Riddell, Chris Darimont, Danielle Shaw, Rashid Sumaila, John Reynolds, and Verena Tunnicliffe, to name a few.

Coastal wolf with a salmon in its month. — Photo by Dene Rossouw.

Committee members

Valeria Vergara

Dr. Valeria Vergara is a Senior Scientist and Cetacean Conservation Research Program Director at Raincoast.

Peter Ross

Dr. Peter Ross is an internationally recognized ocean pollution expert, having published over 160 scientific articles and book chapters on pollutants of concern in the oceans, and impacts on fish, seals and whales.

Chris Genovali

Chris is the Executive Director of Raincoast Conservation Foundation.

Jason Hwang

Jason is the Chief Program Officer and Vice President of the Salmon program at the Pacific Salmon Foundation.

Chris Darimont

Dr. Chris Darimont is a Fellow of the Royal Society. He is Professor, Provost’s Engaged Scholar, and the Raincoast Chair of Applied Conservation Science Lab in the Department of Geography at the University of Victoria. He was also the 2024 recipient of the Murray A. Newman Conservation Award

Lance Barrett-Lennard

Dr. Lance Barrett-Lennard is a Raincoast Senior Scientist and Cetacean Conservation Research Program Director.

Jacqueline Gijssen

A leader in the BC not-for-profit sector, from arts and culture to community engagement and development, Jacquie is a passionate supporter of her husband, Dr. John Nightingale’s vision to create a world in which oceans are healthy and flourishing.

Misty MacDuffee

Misty MacDuffee is the Director of the Wild Salmon Program. She is a conservation biologist with a focus on fisheries ecology in salmon ecosystems. She has a particular interest in the role of salmon as critical food sources for wildlife and incorporating their needs into salmon management decisions.