Biology Prof. Gretchen Daily Ph.D. ’92 has won a 2010 Heinz Award for her efforts to protect natural ecosystems, specifically her work in calculating the financial benefits of preserving the environment.

Daily was one of 10 recipients of the award this year. Each recipient receives $100,000.

Daily co-founded the Natural Capital Project, a group that is currently creating a software program called InVEST to help decision-makers identify top-priority locations for conservation where those efforts would lead to high economic value. She is a senior fellow at the Woods Institute for the Environment.

Now in their 16th year, the Heinz Awards are administered by the Heinz Family Philanthropies and recognizes contributors to arts and humanities, the environment, the human condition, public policy and technology, the economy and employment, according to a press release. The theme of this year’s awards is “environment challenges.”

–Ivy Nguyen