Bryan Pijanowski, professor in Purdue University’s Department of Forestry and Natural Resources and director of the Center for Global Soundscapes, was recognized on April 28 with both the 2026 International Association for Landscape Ecology – North America Distinguished Landscape Ecologist Award and Purdue College of Agriculture’s 2026 Lowell S. Hardin Award for Excellence in International Agriculture.
These honors highlight Pijanowski’s influence in soundscape ecology, a field he helped define by exploring how environmental sounds shape human understanding of nature. His research has advanced knowledge about biodiversity and the connections between people and their environment through sound.
Pijanowski said, “What these awards do is showcase the importance of sound across so many dimensions of our lives. My hope is that this encourages us to step away from the noisy distractions of the built world and instead reorient our senses, our thoughts and our sense of care for the natural world.”
Tomas Höök, professor and department head of forestry and natural resources at Purdue University, said, “Bryan Pijanowski has been a longtime innovator in the field of landscape ecology. His more recent work focuses on measuring and studying soundscapes has proven to be an innovative way to bridge landscape ecology and sound ecology for a multifaceted perspective on environmental systems and how they are changing.”
Pijanowski’s work includes developing scientific frameworks that define soundscape ecology. He contributed to landmark publications now used across multiple academic disciplines. His research links environmental health with human well-being by examining both negative effects such as noise pollution as well as restorative benefits from natural sounds.
“My recent foray is into thinking about sounds of nature as a restorative value to human health and especially how it improves our mental health. I’ve been doing some work in sound and connecting it to One Health that explores this concept in a lot more detail,” said Pijanowski.
Gerald Shively, associate dean at Purdue College of Agriculture, commented on Pijanowski’s international impact: “Pijanowski’s international research is distinguished by its scientific rigor, global impact and collaborative reach. His work connects environmental change and human activity in ways that inform both science and policy worldwide, making him a clear choice for the Hardin Award.”
The Department of Agriculture at Purdue University functions as one of its core academic units according to its official website. The department also utilizes facilities such as the Agricultural Administration Building on its West Lafayette campus according to university information.
Virginia Ferris stands out as the first female full professor within Purdue University’s Department of Agriculture where she served as an entomologist according to university records. The department funds innovative projects through AgSEED grants which yield high returns on investment according to official sources.
Through extension efforts aimed at enhancing social well-being by fostering vibrant communities, strong families, and profitable businesses the department reports, Purdue’s agricultural initiatives have broad societal impacts. Its agricultural engineering graduate program ranks first nationally according to U.S. News & World Report cited on their website as noted by Purdue.
Looking ahead, Pijanowski aims to complete his goal of studying every major ecosystem globally while using new technologies like virtual reality platforms developed with departmental partners at Purdue University.
