Nominees for the 2025 Indianapolis Prize were announced today, and we are thrilled to share that Oceanic Society president Roderic Mast is among this esteemed group of 44. Often referred to as the “Nobel Prize of Conservation,” the Indianapolis Prize recognizes the inspiring achievements of exceptional animal conservationists who have made significant strides in preserving species worldwide.
With over 40 years of experience as a marine biologist and biodiversity expert, Rod has tackled conservation challenges across the globe, collaborating with changemakers ranging from local communities to national leaders and corporate executives. His journey began in the 1980s as a field biologist studying sea turtles in Georgia (USA), Mexico, Colombia, and the Galapagos Islands. Since then, he has been at the forefront of groundbreaking global-scale efforts at leading nature organizations, including America’s first ocean conservation nonprofit, Oceanic Society, where he has served as president for more than a decade.
Rod Mast was nominated for the Indianapolis Prize in recognition of his decades of work for ocean conservation. © Tui de Roy
Rod co-founded the State of the World’s Sea Turtles (SWOT) program that pioneered the first and only comprehensive database on global sea turtle biogeography, a resource that is now used daily by governments, researchers, and conservationists worldwide. SWOT has grown into a worldwide network of thousands of conservationists dedicated to sea turtle and ocean preservation. Rod is also the Chief Editor of the award-winning magazine, SWOT Report, now in its 20th year, and he oversees a grants program that has invested hundreds of thousands of dollars in community-led projects in more than 50 countries. For more than two decades, Rod has co-led the Marine Turtle Specialist Group (MTSG) of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) that has conducted groundbreaking global assessments of sea turtle conservation priorities. Recently, Rod has also merged biology with social science strategies that aim to integrate human behavior change goals into sea turtle and ocean conservation through an effort called Team BEACH.
“The challenges that sea turtles face globally are a direct result of the adverse impacts of man on their ocean habitats, from beachfront development, to pollution and climate change. Addressing human behaviors relating to healthy oceans can ensure the survival of not only turtles, but countless millions of species, and ultimately humans as well. Conservation is no longer a fringe movement, nor the sole domain of animal lovers, zoos, and nonprofits; it must increasingly become a collective societal mandate involving governments, corporations, and individuals of all stripes. Sea Turtles help me tell the stories that engage people in adopting tiny new behaviors that when taken to scale can save the planet and ensure our own future.” – Rod Mast
Dr. Rob Shumaker, CEO of the Indianapolis Zoo, commented, “The nominees for the Indianapolis Prize are true champions for wildlife. I am honored to highlight the important achievements of these remarkable individuals.” The Indianapolis Prize shines a light on the hope for our planet and celebrates the stories of those whose work not only saves species but also ensures a sustainable future for generations to come.
