Meet the 2024
Rotary Environmental Award Winners
The Rotary Environmental Innovators Fund Award Winners
Proving that ordinary people can have an extraordinary impact on the environment
2024 Award Winners
Pollinators like the rusty-patched bumblebee and monarch butterflies are declining rapidly, with alarming statistics suggesting significant decreases in their populations. Moths, often overlooked, face similar threats and are poorly studied. Sarah’s research aims to understand the intricate connections between moths, plants, and bats to better preserve their habitats and populations. It includes uniting local Citizen Scientists and inspiring gardeners to support nighttime ecosystems to encourage conservation actions.
The Catchacoma Forest Stewardship Committee aims to enhance public hiking trails in the Catchacoma Forest, highlighting its rare old-growth eastern hemlock ecosystem. The project aims to raise awareness and support for the forest’s protected status through educational signage and guided activities, including recreational, educational, and research opportunities. By engaging community volunteers, the project will create accessible trails and informative signage to promote conservation values and biodiversity appreciation.
“Flora’s Reign” is an augmented reality (AR) mobile game where players restore nature by planting and nurturing virtual gardens of native plants in real-world locations. It educates children and families about biodiversity, ecosystem balance, and conservation principles while fostering curiosity and sparking real-world action for ecosystem regeneration. Through AR technology and community engagement, the game innovatively bridges digital entertainment with ecological awareness, empowering players to become stewards of the environment.
The Ashburnham Memorial Stewardship Group aims to transform Ashburnham Memorial Park into a vibrant, biodiverse space by reimagining the existing parking lot as a multi-use, green area. Through community engagement and professional design, the project seeks to mitigate environmental issues such as dangerous driving and garbage dumping while enhancing wildlife habitat and promoting sustainable recreation.
Gerry Marcotte,
Tick Suit
The “Tick Suit” offers superior protection against ticks and biting insects, addressing the growing threat of Lyme disease and other insect-borne illnesses. Dense, tear-resistant fabric and innovative ventilation panels enhance researchers’ and outdoor workers’ safety and comfort. The project aims to mass-produce and distribute these suits globally, benefiting environmental workers and communities worldwide.
2023 Award Winners
The Monarch Ultra raises awareness about the decline of monarch populations through its long-distance running events, social media channels, the media, and partnerships with schools, non-profits, and municipalities. This year, James’s team is planning Peterborough’s first-ever Monarch Butterfly Festival and Race to bolster monarch butterfly conservation efforts. The organization is also planning festivals and races in the USA and Mexico.
A collaborative community initiative, the BCWA is dedicated to conserving and enhancing the local watershed. The Alliance is working with community stakeholders and government to monitor ecological systems in the Baxter Creek watershed, educate the broader community, and implement innovative conservation initiatives to protect the natural heritage through landowner stewardship plans and conservation agreements.
Dylan has created a drone that broadcasts high-value tree and tallgrass seed with precision over large areas to help restore essential ecosystems. The drone operates autonomously with limited operator intervention and can be constructed with tools commonly available in school or library makerspaces. The intention is to release the project as an open-source design – a relatively new concept in the environmental sector.
2023 Award Winners
As a sustainable clothing brand, Ava&Ziva strives to reduce the environmental impact of the clothing industry by using deadstock fabric for its high-quality, small-batch garments.
Zachary McCue,
REPWR
REPWR designs and builds renewable energy systems for the intermodal shipping network, which provide clean power for the shipping industry and lower greenhouse gas emissions and environmental impact.