2026
Award Recipient: Dr. Simeon Lisovski
For his pioneering research on the ecology of bird migration, his outstanding contributions to our understanding of how bird populations adapt to environmental changes, and his innovative work on polar ecology and the ecological consequences of global change.
Laudation
The German Ornithological Society awards the 2026 Horst Wiehe Foundation Prize to Dr. Simeon Lisovski for his outstanding scientific contributions to ecological ornithology. His work has significantly advanced our understanding of bird migration, the adaptability of bird populations to environmental changes, and the ecological consequences of global change.
Dr. Simeon Lisovski (center) receives the 2026 Horst Wiehe Foundation Award from DOG President Dr. Dorit Visbeck-Liebers (right) and laudator Carmen Röhr (left).
Simeon Lisovski studied biology and ecology in Rostock and Jena and earned his Ph.D. from Deakin University in Australia, where his dissertation focused on the dynamics of infectious diseases in relation to seasonality and bird migration. After conducting research in Australia, the United States, and Switzerland, he currently works at the Alfred Wegener Institute for Polar and Marine Research in Potsdam and at the Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research in Berlin.
His research focuses on how birds and their communities respond to a rapidly changing environment. Using innovative approaches in movement ecology, state-of-the-art tracking technology, and complex modeling, he has made a decisive contribution to deciphering the spatial and temporal patterns of bird migration on a global scale. His work demonstrates how migratory birds respond to climate change, the limits of their adaptability, and the resulting consequences for populations and their ecosystems.
In addition, Simeon Lisovski has made important contributions to our understanding of the spread of avian influenza viruses and other pathogens by migratory bird species. In doing so, he integrates ornithology, ecology, and epidemiology, providing insights of great relevance to nature conservation and species protection as well as to the understanding of global health risks.
In recent years, the awardee has also made significant contributions to research in the field of polar ornithology. As the leader of numerous expeditions to the Arctic and Antarctica, he investigates the effects of climate change on bird communities and ecosystems in the polar regions. His work combines field research under extreme conditions with modern methods of remote sensing, genetics, and biodiversity research, opening up new perspectives on the future of Arctic and Antarctic habitats.
With more than 70 scientific publications in leading international journals, including *Science*, *Nature Communications*, *Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences*, and *Current Biology*, Simeon Lisovski has had a lasting impact on modern ornithological research. His work is characterized by scientific excellence, methodological innovation, and an exceptionally broad ecological perspective.
By awarding the Horst Wiehe Foundation Prize, the German Ornithological Society honors a scientist whose research has provided fundamental insights into the ecology of migratory bird species and has significantly expanded our understanding of their role in a changing world.
Mainz, September 17, 2026
Awarded by the
German Ornithological Society (Deutsche Ornithologische Gesellschaft e.V.
) at its 159th Annual Meeting
Dr. Dorit Visbeck-Liebers
, President
Prof. Dr. Heiko Schmaljohann
, Vice President
