The Brandwein Medal

The Brandwein Medal, established in 2006, is bestowed upon individuals and/or organizations whose focus is in keeping with Paul and Mary Brandwein’s commitment to education, life-long learning, nature, and community. The award includes a Bronze Medallion and an expense-paid trip to receive the award.

Previous award recipients are

2007: David Brown, 2001 Brandwein Fellow and fifth-grade teacher, Baldwin Intermediate School-West, Quincy, Illinois, was selected to receive the Institute’s first Brandwein Medal. The directors awarded the first Medal to a practicing elementary educator who has exemplified outstanding achievement in engaging students in conservation and outdoor learning. Mr. Brown received the award at the Brandwein Lecture at the National Science Teachers Association Annual Meeting in St. Louis, on March 31, 2007.

2008: Rodger Bybee, former Executive Director of the Biological Sciences Curriculum Studies (BSCS), was a leader in the development of the National Science Education Standards and served as chair for the content working group. Dr. Bybee received the Brandwein Medal at the NSTA Annual Meeting in Boston on March 29, 2008, for his lifetime achievement in furthering conservation education.

2008: Toyota received a Brandwein Medal for its corporate commitment to sound environmental practices through its sponsorship of the Toyota Tapestry program, the Brandwein Summer Leadership Institutes, and numerous other environmentally-friendly programs throughout the country. Rhonda Glasscock, Corporate Communications Manager, Toyota Motor Sales, accepted the Medal at the Brandwein Lecture at the NSTA Annual Meeting in Boston on March 29, 2008.

2008: Katalin Czippan, Programme Leader in the Sustainable Development Programme Office at Eötvös Lorand University (ELTE), Budapest, Hungary, received a Brandwein Medal on October 10, 2008, at the World Conservation Conference in Barcelona, Spain. Ms. Czippan received the award for her pioneering efforts in conservation and nature education in the newly emerging democracies in Central and Eastern Europe.  

2009: Dan Bisaccio, 1997 Brandwein Fellow, received a 2009 Brandwein Medal, presented at the Brandwein Lecture, March 21, at the NSTA Annual Meeting in New Orleans.After spending many years as a high school teacher, Dan now directs Secondary Science Education at Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island.  Dan is recognized for his ongoing field research studies in biodiversity.