World Wildlife Fund

Washington, DC - World Wildlife Fund today launched the Kathryn Fuller Science for Nature Fund, established to honor WWF's president and CEO from 1989 until 2005. The fund will support and harness the most promising research in conservation science, making it more accessible to conservationists and the scientific community. More than a third of the $10 million goal has already been raised.

"I am deeply honored that this fund will carry my name," said Kathryn Fuller. "Successful nature conservation has always had its foundations in sound science. This new fund will help both to build the conservation science field and to ensure that the best new ideas in science shape our conservation practice."

Throughout her tenure at WWF, Kathryn Fuller helped expand the underpinnings of conservation including the disciplines of ecology, hydrology, economics, law, finance, diplomacy and social science. WWF's Conservation Science program, in particular, flourished under her leadership, growing from 3 to 20 scientists.

"I can't think of a more fitting way to honor Kathryn's amazing stewardship of World Wildlife Fund," said Carter Roberts, president and CEO of World Wildlife Fund. "Conservation science was still a relatively new field when Kathryn took the helm but she had the vision to see its potential and her leadership made it a dominant force in how we do our work."

The Kathryn Fuller Science for Nature Fund advances the science of conservation with four programs:

• Fuller Fellowships support scientists early in their careers who are working on important conservation issues. Fellows will have the chance to link their post-doctoral research to on-the-ground-conservation work and to the global network of WWF scientists and practitioners. The deadline for applying is Nov. 15, 2006.
• The annual Science for Nature Symposium will convene world leaders in science, policy, and conservation to engage emerging scientific issue in conservation. The symposia will cover the "state of the science" on a different theme each year, and help construct research agendas to benefit conservation in practice.
• A bi-monthly series of Science for Nature Seminars will bring distinguished scientists from a variety of fields to Washington D.C. to present cutting edge research of central importance to conservation. These events will provide a regular forum for the conservation community to learn, discuss and network.
• A Visiting Scientist program will provide support for senior scientists to spend a three- to nine-month sabbatical at WWF, working in close collaboration with WWF scientists and other staff.

  The first symposium of the Kathryn Fuller Science for Nature Fund will take place Oct. 31, 2006 at the Carnegie Institution at 1530 P St. NW, Washington, D.C. The symposium will look at the emerging field of "ecosystem services," which is dedicated to assessing the economic values of services from nature that include such basic functions as clean water, flood control, and climate regulation. The event will serve as the launch of the Natural Capital Project, a joint effort led by Stanford University, The Nature Conservancy and World Wildlife Fund which has been created to develop and deploy innovative and accessible tools that capture the value of ecosystem services for decision-making.