Tommy Remengesau Environmental Award 2026
Tommy Remengesau Environmental Award 2026
Posted January 26, 2026Above (left to right): Roxanne Siual Blesam (CEO of Palau International Coral Reef Center), Gerda Ucharm (Recipient of 2026 Tommy Remengesau Environmental Award), Surangel Whipps Jr. (President of the Republic of Palau).
Reflections by Gerda Ucharm.
Receiving the 2026 Tommy Remengesau Environmental Award is a deeply meaningful honor. This award recognizes an individual who has made significant contributions to the conservation, management, and protection of Palau’s environment. I am grateful for this recognition and for the many people and institutions in Palau that have shaped my journey as a researcher.
My path began at the Palau International Coral Reef Center (PICRC), where I was first introduced to hands-on marine research and learned the value of long-term data in informing communities, management decisions, and national policy. These early experiences provided the foundation and confidence that guided my career forward.
For the past 16 years, the Coral Reef Research Foundation (CRRF) has been my professional home. Through mentorship, collaboration, and long-term research, CRRF strengthened my skills and supported my growth as a researcher. Equally important has been the opportunity to mentor interns and Palauan students—investing in local capacity and inspiring the next generation of scientists.
This award also reflects the support of my family and the values instilled in me from an early age, especially by my late mother, whose discipline and guidance continue to shape my work and perspective. I am also deeply inspired by my daughter, Dildaob, whose name means Miss Ocean. She motivates me every day to be the best version of myself and reinforces my commitment to protecting the ocean that defines both my work and her name.
From left to right: Aiea Ucharm, Gerda Ucharm, Dildaob Ucharm, and Kitana Ucharm.
I see this recognition not as a definition of my individual hard work, but as a symbol of our shared partnerships, collaboration, and collective will to protect our resources for future generations. It represents the contributions of each and every one of us working to strengthen the ties between our culture, our way of life, and our precious ocean—using science to support conservation and sustainable resource management in Palau.
