Terrie Williams, University of California, Santa Cruz, will receive the 2024 NAS Award in the Evolution of Earth and Life – Daniel Giraud Elliot Medal.
Williams has made fundamental contributions to understanding how large mammals function in their diverse habitats that has transformed the field of ecological physiology.
Her research is dedicated to understanding the ecological significance of large, apex carnivores and their physiological adaptations necessary for species survival in a world that is constantly changing due to human impacts. Williams has investigated the metabolic, cardiovascular, neural, and thermal physiology of terrestrial and aquatic mammals, detailing how individual species are built and how their underlying physiology drives functional relationships between animals and their environment. She has developed novel micro-technologies for field measurements of the physiology of free-ranging mammals such as Arctic narwhals, sea otters, African lions, seals, and polar bears.
The Daniel Giraud Elliot Medal recognizes a most meritorious, recently published work in zoology or paleontology. The award is presented with a medal and a $20,000 prize.