Danylchuk Honored for Teaching and Public Stewardship

Andy Danylchuk, professor of fish conservation in the department of environmental conservation, has recently been honored with two awards, both of which celebrate his willingness to combine research, teaching and public service.

“My research has real-world implications,” says Danylchuk, “and my goal is to help students, rightsholders, stakeholders and the broader public realize that taking a science-based approach when tackling environmental issues can effect positive change in the world.”

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The American Fisheries Society’s (AFS) Excellence in Fisheries Education Award recognizes excellence in organized teaching and advising in the field of fisheries. As the past president of AFS, Brian Murphy, noted, “Throughout his life, Dr. Danylchuk has been on a personal crusade to ensure that fish are around for future generations to enjoy, whether on the end of a fishing line, on a dinner plate or simply to watch in wonder.”

Like any recreational angler, Danylchuk loves a good fish story, but rather than exaggerating the size of his latest catch, Danylchuk sees his stories as a way to hook his audience’s attention. “Given the world’s pressing social and environmental issues,” he says, “I have a moral obligation to inspire the students I teach, and to help them develop their voice and their sense of how to interact as thoughtful, caring inhabitants of the planet.”

Danylchuk takes a similar approach to his public stewardship, and was recently awarded the Bonefish and Tarpon Trust’s (BTT) Flats Stewardship Award, which goes to the “scientist, angler or conservationist who has made significant contributions to the stewardship of flats species and habitats.” Jim McDuffie, president and CEO of the BTT, says that “our knowledge of the flats fishery has expanded exponentially thanks to Andy's research, which is filling critical knowledge gaps and providing the actionable science needed to advocate for effective fisheries management.”

Danylchuk says that, for him, being a scientist means more than running experiments and publishing papers—though he has done plenty of both and, to date, has more than 170 papers to his name. “Science is inherently collaborative,” he says. He’s a board member on a half-dozen different foundations and associations, serves as a scientist ambassador for a handful of industry partners, including Patagonia, and regularly collaborates with different federal agencies.

“I often get asked, ‘how can you be so positive and upbeat given all the terrible environmental news?’” says Danylchuk. “My answer is that we can’t and shouldn’t teach apathy. We can move things in the right direction by empowering people to use scientific evidence as the basis for advocacy and activism, and demonstrate how each person can make a difference when it comes to taking care of our planet—it’s the only one we’ve got.”