July 08, 2011 — Coral Gables — Environmental anthropologist Kenny Broad and the late underwater photographer Wes Skiles were honored by the National Geographic Society at its inaugural Evening of Exploration gala event, held on June 23 in Washington, D.C. Broad, associate professor of marine affairs and policy and director of UM’s Leonard and Jayne Abess Center for Ecosystem Science and Policy, and Skiles were named “Explorers of the Year,” a new award presented in recognition of their extraordinary achievements in exploring and documenting the blue holes of the Bahamas in 2010. Broad and the Skiles family each received a Rolex Explorer timepiece.
Also honored at the event: musician and environmental activist Jack Johnson, who received the “Arts Ambassador for the Environment Award,” presented to an individual in the entertainment field who has demonstrated leadership in environmental and cultural conservation by elevating issues of sustainability and inspiring audiences to care about the planet. The National Geographic “Chairman’s Award” was presented to IBM for significantly advancing knowledge of the world through its research partnership with National Geographic on the Genographic Project, which is mapping the migratory history of humans.
