Victoria Reyes-García, Distinguished Alumna of the University of Florida
Dr. Victoria Reyes-García, a researcher at ICTA-UAB, has been named a Distinguished Alumna by the University of Florida (UF) for her contributions to the understanding of Indigenous knowledge systems and their relevance to global environmental challenges, including climate change and biodiversity loss.
The recognition was presented during the 2025 commencement ceremony of the University of Florida, held at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium—known as “The Swamp”—which seats up to 90,000 people.
In front of a massive audience of over 10,000 students accompanied by their families, professors, and university authorities, Dr. Victoria Reyes-García received a heartfelt tribute led by Distinguished Professor Emerita Marianne Schmink, who highlighted not only her academic excellence but also her strong commitment to nurturing future generations of scientists.
Dr. Reyes-García, who earned her PhD in Anthropology from UF in 2001, has dedicated her career to exploring how Indigenous and local knowledge can help address today’s major environmental challenges. From 1999 to 2004, she lived among the Tsimane’, an Indigenous group in the Bolivian Amazon, and has carried out extensive fieldwork in a wide range of settings, including Spain, India, Mexico, Cameroon, Indonesia, and Senegal.
In addition to her distinguished research career, Dr. Reyes-García is known for her strong dedication to academic mentorship. During the ceremony, Professor Schmink noted, “Beyond her impressive accomplishments, Dr. Reyes-García has an outstanding record of mentoring, training future generations of scientists. She has supervised 17 undergraduate students, 22 master’s students, 18 doctoral candidates, and 10 postdoctoral researchers.”
Dr. Reyes-García has also played a key role in shaping international policy. She has contributed to initiatives such as the joint workshop report sponsored by the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), as well as to IPBES’s Global and Transformative Change Assessments and UNESCO’s Earth Network.
Her work has earned her numerous honours, including the Narcís Monturiol Medal for Scientific Merit (2020), her election as an international member of the U.S. National Academy of Sciences (2021), and her induction into the French Academy of Agriculture (2022).
As Dr. Schmink emphasized, “Through her contributions, Dr. Reyes-García has undoubtedly made the world a better place. Today, we are proud to celebrate her as a Distinguished Alumna and a beacon of innovation, hope, and humanity.”
With this latest recognition, Dr. Victoria Reyes-García continues to solidify her position as a leading figure in environmental science and one of the most influential voices advocating for the integration of Indigenous knowledge into global environmental policy.