2026 Tyler Prize Laurete Announced

Launched in 1973 by John and Alice C. Tyler as a means to turn their shared passion for the environment into its conservation, the prestigious Tyler Prize for Environmental Achievement has been honoring researchers and thought leaders solving the world’s most pressing environmental challenges around the world for over 50 years. Often called the "Nobel Prize for the Environment," previous recipients of the Tyler Prize have included Jane Goodall, pioneering climate scientist Dr. Michael E. Mann and groundbreaking conservation biologist Dr. Gretchen C. Daily. The 2026 Tyler Prize Laureate, evolutionary biologist Dr. Toby Kiers, was honored for her pioneering research into the ways that underground fungal networks can play a critical role in sequestering CO2 and sustaining life on Earth. Kiers worked with colleagues to mobilize a global movement, the Underground Atlas, that’s mapping these vital mycorrhizal fungal networks around the world so the data can be used to guide restoration efforts to protect them on a global scale. Kiers estimates that globally, these mycorrhizal networks draw down 13 billion tons of CO2 into soil systems every year while also sustaining over 90% of plant life on Earth.

Alice and John Tyler also created a perpetual trust to support additional conservation efforts around the world. They had a keen interest in supporting women and girls in STEM and have long been a vital partner to WiNN. Each year, the announcement of the Tyler Prize deepens the profound honor we feel in having our work included in their vision for a better world.