Stony Brook University Distinguished Service Professor Patricia Wright has been selected for a Lifetime Achievement Award by the International Primatological Society (IPS). This recognition is for her extensive work in lemur research and protection, as well as her contributions to primatological and conservation science.
Wright, who is part of Stony Brook’s College of Arts and Sciences' Department of Anthropology, also serves as founder and executive director of the Centre ValBio international research station in Madagascar. She will be honored at the IPS Annual Congress in Madagascar on July 24. During this event, she will deliver a lecture titled “Research and Conservation of the World’s Most Endangered Mammals: Engaging Communities and Protecting Lemurs.” In her talk, she will discuss her experiences in primatology and her passion for tropical biology.
Her speech will cover significant achievements such as discovering the golden bamboo lemur, establishing Ranomafana National Park, completing the Madagascar Environmental Action Plan, delineating World Heritage Sites for Eastern Rainforest National Parks, inaugurating the Centre ValBio Research Station, discovering Ivohiboro—the lost rainforest—and collaborating with a diverse team of researchers.
Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost Carl W. Lejuez stated, “I’m so pleased Pat is being recognized with this award. A beloved professor and colleague, Pat is generous with her expertise and is a tremendous asset to our strong Department of Anthropology.”
A symposium titled “From Lemurs to Landscapes: Celebrating Dr. Patricia Wright’s Legacy in Conservation, Primatology and Public Health” will follow Wright's lecture. This event aims to honor her dedication to understanding and preserving Madagascar's unique primates through talks from colleagues, collaborators, and students.
These presentations will focus on foundational research inspired by Wright’s work on primate behavior and climate change effects on tropical ecosystems. They will also explore her role in creating Ranomafana National Park—a model for community-based conservation—and long-term ecological studies on various lemur species.
Professor Wright expressed her excitement about receiving the award: “I’m thrilled to be chosen for this award and it’s wonderful to receive this honor at the IPS Congress in Madagascar.”
The International Primatological Society Congress gathers scientists worldwide to advance primate research and conservation efforts. The Society aims to promote non-human primate scientific research cooperation among scientists globally while advocating for all primate species' conservation.