The UO Museum of Natural and Cultural History is accepting nominations for its new Oregon Stewardship Award.

Spearheaded by the museum’s advisory council, the annual award recognizes an individual or organization that has significantly engaged its community in an environmental or cultural heritage project, one that aligns with the museum’s mission to inspire stewardship of Oregon’s collective past, present and future.

The recipient of the award will receive $1,000 and be recognized at an award reception, in museum publications and on an “Oregon Heroes” display panel in the museum’s Explore Oregon exhibit.

Online nominations for the 2018 award must be submitted by Monday, Jan. 15. The recipient will be announced March 1. Nomination forms are available on the museum’s website.

Oregon individuals, community groups, nonprofit organizations, K-12 schools and higher education institutions are all eligible nominees, as are national and regional organizations with offices or affiliates in Oregon. Eligible projects are Oregon-based and relate directly to Oregon’s environment or cultural heritage.

To be considered, projects must have meaningful community impact and be ongoing or completed during the 2017 calendar year.

The museum invites groups and individuals to self-nominate. Nominations will also be accepted from third parties wishing to recognize group or individual stewardship of Oregon’s environment or cultural heritage.

“Every day, the museum’s stewardship mission brings us into contact with Oregon heroes — people who are doing amazing work to protect and preserve our ecosystems, landscapes and cultures,” said UO archaeology professor Jon Erlandson, the museum’s executive director. “The Oregon Stewardship Award will help shine well-deserved light on that work.

—By Kristin Strommer, Museum of Natural and Cultural History