RMBL Scientists Jill Anderson and Ian Breckheimer Win 2026 ESA W.S. Cooper Award

by the Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory
May 18, 2026

Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory (RMBL) scientists Jill Anderson and Ian Breckheimer have received the 2026 W.S. Cooper Award from the Ecological Society of America (ESA). The Cooper Award honors the authors of an outstanding publication in the field of geobotany, physiographic ecology, plant succession, or the distribution of plants along environmental gradients.

“This year’s award recipients have each contributed something important to ecology, often in very different ways,” ESA President Peter Groffman said. “Whether through research, mentorship, or service, they’ve helped strengthen the community and move the field forward.”

“This award underscores the importance of long-term, place-based science in understanding and responding to climate change,” RMBL Executive Director Jeni Blacklock, PhD said. “Jill and Ian’s work is a powerful example of how RMBL research is helping to shape the future of ecological science and inform decisions that matter well beyond Gothic.”

Keep reading: https://www.rmbl.org/news-press/media-center/press-releases/

Read the ESA announcement: https://esa.org/blog/2026/05/06/ecological-society-of-america-announces-2026-award-recipients/