2001 SPANISH GEOGRAPHIC AWARDS

SGS International Award - Doctor Biruté Galdikas

The SGS International Award is presented annually to foreign people, companies, or entities that have distinguished themselves through their work towards publicizing geography and travel and understanding different cultures through travel in keeping with the objectives that the Spanish Geographic Society proposes in its articles of association.

The International Award for 2001 went to anthropologist Biruté Galdikas , for her thirty years of dedication to the study of orangutans in their natural habitat of Indonesia . With this award, the SGS would like to acknowledge the importance of one of the lengthiest investigation projects conducted on mammals as well as Biruté Galdikas' determination, her personal dedication and her relentless fight to protects these endangered primates and their environment.

SGS National Award - Eduardo Martínez de Pisón

The SGS National Award is presented annually to people, companies, or entities that have distinguished themselves through their work towards publicizing geography and travel and understanding different cultures through travel in keeping with the objectives that the Spanish Geographic Society proposes in its articles of association.

The National Award for 2002 went to Eduardo Martínez de Pisón , one of the most distinguished Spanish geographers who played a crucial part in Spanish mountaineering and is the author of numerous investigative works on glacial areas around the globe. The SGS would like to recognize his long professional career dedicated both to the study of physical geography, particularly of glaciers and to the education of future geographers.

SGS Image Award - Cristina García Rodero

The SGS Image Award is presented to the best piece of work on geography or travel completed in the field of television, photography, video, cinema or any other technology the world of image. Not only is technical quality taken into consideration, but also the driving spirit behind the work.

This year, it was presented to Cristina García Rodero for her magnificent professional career and for the her photography work as a whole. Her photographs make up a valuable anthropological work about the life and customs of different peoples.

SGS Trip of the Year Award - Expedición Trans-Groenlandia

The SGS Trip of the Year Award is presented to the most interesting trip developed or finished during the year in which the awards are presented or during the past year if the trip is of a longer nature. Particularly recognized are those trips that involve breaking a personal record and discovering and reaching new geographic borders for mankind.

The award was given to the Trans-Greenland Expedition , the longest Spanish polar expedition ever undertaken completely independently. It was carried out by Ramón Larramendi and José Manuel Naranjo from April 22nd to May 23rd, 2001 aboard a "catamaran-sled" propelled by giant kites devised by the expedition members themselves. The expedition covered 2,225 kilometers in 32 days without picking up any dropped-off provisions along the way and without the use of motor vehicles. It managed to break the world record for the largest distance covered in one day during a polar crossing.

SGS Enterprise/Company Award - Fundación Oso Pardo

The SGS Enterprise Award is presented to those investigative projects, teams and initiatives in the cultural and scientific fields that promote awareness and diffusion of geography following the founding spirit of the SGS.

It was presented to Fundación Oso Pardo (Brown Bear Foundation) for their contribution towards conserving and studying the brown bear, its habitat and cultural environment chiefly in the Cantabrian Mountains . The SGS would like to commend their efforts and achievements in recovering the brown bear and in particular the impetus given to environmental education thereby helping to change attitudes and providing support for the conservation of the bear.

SGS Investigation Award - Proyecto HOMINID. Grupo de orígenes humanos

The SGS Investigation Award is presented to the person or entity that has distinguished him/herself through their efforts in publicizing or investigation.

This year it was awarded to the Proyecto "HOMINID. Grupo de orígenes humanos" (Project "HOMINID. Human Origins Group"), whose driving force and president is the anthropologist Jordi Serrallonga. The SGS would particularly like to commend their innovative spirit and their interdisciplinary character which has made it possible for the first time ever in Spain to include in a single project all types of experts dedicated to investigation and popularization of the origins, evolution and behavior of out ancestors: archaeologists, paleontologists, primatologists, geologists and ethnologists.

Premio SGE Publicaciones - Revista Altaïr

The SGS Editorial Award is presented to magazines, publishers, printed press media or journalists who stand out for popularizing geography and Earth-awareness among Spanish people and in particular for those initiatives that help to spread the image of our country.

This year it was awarded to the Revista y librería Altaïr (Altaïr Magazine and Bookstore), specializing in travel for their innovative spirit and the quality of their publications. Their centers in Madrid and Barcelona are meeting points where all travelers can debate and exchange ideas.

SGS Member of the Year - Jesús González Green

The Member of Honor is awarded to Spaniards who have distinguished themselves through a lifelong dedication to spreading geography and travel and to promoting an understanding of different cultures through travel.

This year, we decided to name Jesús González Green , Spanish pioneer in hot-air-ballooning, the first in our country to possess a flying permit and reporter with a broad professional career. The SGS would like to recognize his bold spirit, ever-ready for new experiences. González Green has participated in various exploits and expeditions such as the first flight between Europe and America in a balloon carried out in 1992.