Issued by the Policy Partnership on Science, Technology and Innovation

Twelve young scientists across 21 APEC member economies are tackling biodiversity challenges and they have been nominated for this year’s APEC Science Prize for Innovation, Research and Education, known as the ASPIRE Prize.

Under the theme of “Biodiversity for a Prosperous Economy,” the 2020 ASPIRE Prize will be awarded for scientific research focused on biodiversity and how it contributes to local livelihoods, traditional and modern medicines and economic development.

“We are thrilled to announce the nominees and showcase their research,” said Daniel Dufour, Chair of the APEC Policy Partnership for Science, Technology, and Innovation, which administers the annual ASPIRE Prize. “The work of the nominees will contribute to APEC’s scientific and technological efforts toward a post pandemic recovery.”

The winner will be announced at a virtual ceremony during a suite of meetings hosted by Malaysia in August 2020 and will be awarded USD 25,000 from renowned publishers of scholarly scientific knowledge, Wiley and Elsevier.

“The theme of biodiversity is important to APEC economies because of its application to health systems and sustainable development,” said Dr. Siti Hamisah, Secretary General of Ministry of Science, Technology, and Innovation Malaysia. “A well-functioning ecosystem and rich biodiversity are imperative to the well-being of communities around the region and lead to economic prosperity.”

Work carried out by the 2020 nominees includes the study of wasps’ contribution to maintaining healthy natural ecosystems; the testing of herbal medicines traditionally used to prevent viral infections applied to other contexts; and conservation and sustainable use of plant biodiversity using molecular technologies.

Click here to meet the 2020 ASPIRE Prize finalists

“As we celebrate 10 years of the ASPIRE Prize, we are honored to highlight the work of researchers who are dedicating their careers to driving APEC’s economic sustainability and prosperity,” said Brian Napack, Wiley’s Chief Executive Officer.

“Collaboration across borders is a critical pillar of the ASPIRE Prize and global scientific advancement," he explained. “We are proud to support these impressive young scientists.”

“These young researchers and their pursuit of scientific excellence is critical for all of our economies, not only to further economic growth, but also to protect the health of our environment and populations,” concluded YoungSuk “Y.S.” Chi, Chairman of Elsevier. “These young scientists are leading the way for a more sustainable future for generations to come.”

Since its establishment in 2011, the ASPIRE prize has recognized young scientists working on issues ranging from natural laboratories, food security, sustainable ocean development, strengthening international science and technology networks and promoting innovation.