The Humboldt Foundation’s Konrad Adenauer Research Awardhonours researchers from Canada whose fundamental discoveries and insights have had a significant impact on their discipline and beyond, and whose personality and research contribute to academic and cultural relations between Germany and Canada. Financed by the Federal Foreign Office, the award is valued at EUR 80,000.

This prestigious award recognizes Professor Fortin‘s groundbreaking contributions to spatial ecology, particularly her development of innovative models that integrate ecology, geography, and statistics. Her pioneering work has transformed how spatial ecological data are analyzed, enabling predictions of species dispersal in fragmented landscapes and informing conservation strategies. By emphasizing the interplay between species interaction networks and habitat networks, her research offers critical insights into preserving biodiversity and ecosystem functions in our changing world.

As the holder of the Canada Research Chair in Spatial Ecology, Professor Fortin’s international reputation is further solidified by this honor. The Konrad Adenauer Research Award not only acknowledges her scientific achievements but also fosters academic and cultural exchange between Canada and Germany. As part of the award, she will have the opportunity to conduct a research project of her choosing in Germany, collaborating with specialist colleagues there.

Please join us in celebrating Professor Fortin’s remarkable accomplishment and her continued contributions to the field of ecology.