Dr. John Fryxell (left), Professor, Department of Integrative Biology at the University of Guelph, takes the 2022 Weston Family Ecosystem Research Award. The award is presented by Bryan Gilvesy, ALUS Chief Executive Officer (right).
By Andrew Joseph, Farms.com
Congratulations to Dr. John Fryxell, Professor, and former chair of the Integrative Biology department at the University of Guelph, who has garnered the 2022 Weston Family Ecosystem Research Award.
The award recognizes researchers or ALUS partners for excellence and innovation in scientific research on ecosystem services produced on farmland for the broader public good.
“Dr. Fryxell’s applied research has helped the world better understand the interaction of biodiversity and natural systems on agricultural lands,” said Emma Adamo, the Chair of the Weston Family Foundation. “The Weston Family Foundation is thrilled the 2022 Weston Family Ecosystem Research Award is going to Dr. Fryxell, and we are grateful to him and his team for their advancements in the field.”
Dr. Fryxell has spent his career investigating the intersection of human activity and the natural world. Through the Fryxell Lab at the University of Guelph, he, his students, and fellow researchers have taken their scientific inquiries to three continents to pursue a deeper understanding of boreal ecology, aquatic and terrestrial food web dynamics, and biodiversity. Of particular merit for the award, Dr. Fryxell and his collaborators have conducted research throughout southern Ontario, working with local ALUS programs to understand how ecosystem projects interact with biodiversity and natural systems on agricultural lands.
The breadth of Dr. Fryxell’s research is what makes it significant. He and his research team have contributed to a richer understanding of the biological mechanisms that help us sustain the ecosystems and biodiversity that sustain human societies.
“A lot of the work that I’ve been engaged in has become increasingly oriented around an equitable trade-off between the needs of humans and the needs of nature,” explained Dr. Fryxell. “Despite the fact that we’ve been harvesting nature for eons, we’re still not really clear about all the essential contributors that help produce a healthy landscape, and there are many actors that provide some assistance in often hidden ways.”
For Dr. Fryxell, the award recognizes more than just the work. It’s about bringing attention to the ways that research is a broad undertaking, a collaborative effort with extensive value for society.
“I see this award as an award for my research team because all science that gets done in university environments is team science,” said Dr. Fryxell. “And, as with any award, one would hope that it helps to focus on areas where maybe a larger discussion is one we could all benefit from.”
The Weston Family Ecosystem Research Award has previously been presented to Dr. Amy Newman in 2020, Dr. Wanhong Yang in 2018, and Dr. Andrew MacDougall in 2016.
ALUS (originally an acronym for Alternative Land Use Services) is a national charitable organization that provides expertise, resources, and direct financial support to 35 communities across six provinces where more than 1,400 farmers and ranchers establish and steward nature-based solutions on their land.
These solutions deliver ecosystem services to help sustain agriculture and fight climate change and biodiversity loss for the benefit of communities and future generations. Projects such as enhanced wetlands, windbreaks, riparian buffer zones, wildlife habitats, adaptative agricultural practices, and other impactful environmental solutions produce cleaner air, cleaner water, greater biodiversity, carbon sequestration, erosion control, flood and drought mitigation, pollinator and wildlife habitat, and other ecological services.