2004 John Stoneman Award

In 1979 The Foundation for Ocean Research, an organization that worked in the area of marine science and research, instituted an annual international award that recognized an individual or organization making a substantial contribution towards the better understanding and appreciation of the marine environment. Due to his extensive accomplishments in the area of marine conservation and education, the Foundation named the award after John Stoneman, the John Stoneman Award. Over the next 25 years this award was given to a wide range of recipients including scientists, artists, media, conservationists, filmmakers and photographers etc. The Foundation for Ocean Research closed down in 2004 and, due to the award's importance, asked John Stoneman if he would continue to bestow the award upon worthy recipients. According to John Stoneman: "I decided to broaden the scope of the award to include all aspects of the natural world, rather than just the marine environment, and as the 2004 award was to be presented to an individual or organization that had made a major contribution towards the better understanding and appreciation of the natural world and the animals that live within it, and as the category for 2004 was going to cover education, I had very little difficulty in coming up with Merv and Lynda Gunter (of Frontiers North Adventures, owners and operators of the Tundra Buggy) as the worthy recipients." Read more about our Commitment to Conservation, including the Adventure Learning Program and the Polar Bear Cam

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