Honors & awards

Award-winning scholars including Steven Chu, a professor in energy science and engineering and recipient of the 1997 Nobel Prize in physics, share the insights behind their breakthroughs.

In recognition of her role in an important environmental rights case in South Africa, Mabilo has been selected as the 2026 winner of Stanford University’s highest environmental prize.

The 2026 winners of the Natural Capital Young Leaders Prize have advocated for a view of nature and economies as deeply intertwined, encouraging people to see themselves as part of nature rather than separate from it.

Sixteen Stanford scholars including Isabel Vila Ortiz, Earth systems BS ’25, have accepted grants funded by the Fulbright U.S. Student Program to pursue special projects abroad during the 2026-27 academic year.

The Stanford physicist and senior fellow at the Precourt Institute for Energy has been honored with membership in the United Kingdom’s national academy of sciences.

Manu Prakash and French collaborator Marcel Babin are being honored for their research on microbial life trapped in sea ice, enhancing our understanding of modern polar ecosystems.

Rob Jackson and Rosamond Naylor are among the Stanford faculty joining the scholarly society, which works to promote science for the public good.

The chemical engineering professor was granted the award for his advances in recovering valuable materials from wastewater.

The 2025 recipients of the Natural Capital Young Leaders Prize recently came to Stanford from across the globe to share their stories, inspiration, and how nature and community are the threads connecting it all.

Energy science and engineering PhD student Rebecca Grekin has received the Student Sustainability award from the Association for Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE) for the online software tool she developed to help analyze food emissions. The AASHE award recognizes student work that advances leadership and promotes sustainability on campus.

Paul Segall, professor of geophysics, and six other Stanford faculty members are among the 250 new members elected to the Academy, which recognizes exceptional scholars from across disciplines who advance knowledge and apply it to the problems of society.

Gretchen Daily, professor of biology and faculty director of the Stanford Natural Capital Project, has been named a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), along with four other Stanford faculty members.

This recognition highlights Stanford's dedication to integrating recycling, resource management, and sustainability into its academic and operational strategies.

TIME recognizes the 100 most influential people in business worldwide working on climate for 2024, including eight Stanford alumni.

Business Insider highlights 15 global activists, business leaders, academics, community leaders, and others working toward climate and environmental solutions.