Joint winners of Society Esmond B. Martin 2026 Prize announced

Esmond B. Martin was a renowned American geographer and conservationist who left a generous endowment for the Society to award an annual prize in his name - the Esmond B. Martin Royal Geographical Society Prize. 

The Prize, first awarded in 2023, recognises outstanding individual achievement in the pursuit and application of geographical research, with a particular emphasis on wildlife conservation and environmental research studies.

The 2026 Esmond B. Martin RGS Prize has been awarded to Dr Krithi Karanth, Chief Executive Officer of the Centre for Wildlife Studies (CWS) in Bengaluru, India, and Professor Alexandre Antonelli, Executive Director of Science at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

Each winner holds leading roles at major public-facing research institutions and has made crucial contributions to our understanding of the world’s ecosystems, as well as working to protect the planet’s biodiversity.

About Dr Krithi Karanth

Dr Krithi Karanth is a scientist and educator with over two decades of experience in the human element of wildlife conservation. She leads the Centre for Wildlife Studies (CWS), one of India’s foremost international centres of scholarship, policy, and public education about the country’s natural heritage. Dr Karanth has been a major player in changing the narrative around conservation projects in India and beyond, creating holistic interventions that build support networks.

Her conservation work has focused on building localised and accessible knowledge on the coexistence between human and wildlife populations, through conservation and education programmes. Working in rural villages and schools surrounding India’s wildlife reserves, often underserved by educational, public health and conservation infrastructure, her work has helped tens of thousands of children and adults navigate human-wildlife interactions, protect communities, and work alongside conservationists to secure financial support.

Throughout her career, she has helped to bridge the gap between academic research and the public, empowering scientists to participate in efforts, to focus on expanding pathways for low-income communities and women working in this space.