Jack Gilbert, Professor in the Department of Pediatrics and the Scripps Institution of Oceanography at UC San Diego, has been named as this year’s winner of the Rachel Carson Environmental Conservation Award.
The prize is part of the Applied Microbiology International Horizon Awards 2026, which celebrate the brightest minds in the field and promote the research, groups, projects, products and individuals who continue to help shape the future of applied microbiology.
The Rachel Carson Environmental Conservation Excellence Award honours the enduring legacy of Rachel Carson by recognising outstanding achievements in applied microbiology that deliver meaningful impact in environmental conservation.
It celebrates professionals, researchers, and innovators whose work has contributed to the protection, restoration, and sustainable management of marine and terrestrial ecosystems.
The award recognises applied microbiology that has moved beyond research or pilot activity to deliver real-world outcomes: supporting ecosystem resilience, safeguarding biodiversity, and addressing critical environmental challenges across land and water systems.
Professor Gilbert said: “Applied Microbiology International is my academic home away from home - receiving this award means the world to me. I have always strived to support conservation action around the world using microbiology as the key to unlock innovation in management and restoration practices. Rachel Carson is one of my heroes, so this award has special resonance for me personally. I am truly honored.”
Professor Gilbert is a microbiologist at UC San Diego, where he is also Associate Vice Chancellor for Marine Science.
He earned his Ph.D. from Nottingham University, UK in 2002, and has held positions at for example, Plymouth Marine Laboratory, Argonne National Laboratory, and University of Chicago.
A pioneer in microbial ecology, he cofounded the Earth Microbiome Project and American Gut Project, founded mSystems journal, and has authored more than 450 peer-reviewed publications, including the popular science book "Dirt is Good."
He is UC San Diego’s principal investigator for the NIH's $175M Nutrition for Precision Medicine program, co-founded BiomeSense Inc in 2018, is chief scientific advisor for Oath Biome, and faculty director of the UC San Diego Soil Health Center.
His honors include Popular Science's Brilliant Ten, the IFF Microbiome Science Prize, and election to the American Academy of Microbiology. He recently ended his term as President of Applied Microbiology International and is currently co-chair of the IUCN Microbial Conservation Specialist Group.
For 2027, the Horizon Awards portfolio is expanding with three new Early Career Excellence Awards, recognising emerging researchers making an impact in environmental conservation, food security and innovation, and public health. The established WH Pierce Prize, the Christiana Figueres Policy to Practice Award, and the Dorothy Jones Diversity and Inclusion Achievement Award remain open to researchers across career stages, with criteria that allow early career researchers to compete on an equal footing.
The winners of all 9 Horizon Awards will be announced and celebrated at the LAM ECR Symposium at Queen Mary University of London in June 2027, bringing together established leaders and the next generation of applied microbiologists for a celebration of achievement across our community.
Know someone whose work deserves recognition? Nominate them for a 2027 Horizon Award.
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