Pavlik named finalist for Emerging Conservationist Award

David Pavlik, a research assistant in the Haddad Lab at the W.K. Kellogg Biological Station, has been named a finalist for a national award.

The 2025 Emerging Conservationist Award recognizes early career efforts to save wildlife species around the world. Ten finalists under the age of 40 are being considered for the award, which includes $50,000 to further their work. The award is part of the global Indianapolis Prize program and an initiative of the Indianapolis Zoo. It was introduced in 2023.

This year, the prize’s review committee named 10 finalists under the age of 40 to be considered for the Emerging Conservationist award.

David Pavlik

According to Nick Haddad, “Dave works on two of the world’s most endangered butterflies—species that are also found in Michigan, the Poweshiek skipperling and Mitchell’s satyr. At the John Ball Zoo, Dave works in three large hoop houses and in their lab facilities…he and the zoo currently maintain about 2,000 Poweshiek skipperlings—more individuals than there are in the wild in the world!”

Pavlik also collaborates with the Fitzpatrick Lab at KBS on genetic rescue studies of the Mitchell’s Satyr butterfly. Others partners in his research include the John Ball Zoo, Michigan Natural Features Inventory, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and University of Minnesota.

“It is an honor to recognize these extraordinary conservationists who represent the next generation in our profession. Their passion and dedication to protecting the planet’s most vulnerable species gives us hope for the future of life on Earth,” noted Dr. Rob Shumaker, president and CEO of the Indianapolis Zoological Society, Inc.

The winner of the Emerging Conservationist Award will be honored at the 2025 Indianapolis Prize Gala on Saturday, Sept. 27, 2025.

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