The Hebrew University of Jerusalem proudly congratulates Dr. Uria Alcolombri on being named one of the 19 Frontiers Planet Prize 2025 National Champions – and the only Israeli scientist to receive this honor in this year’s prestigious global competition.

The Frontiers Planet Prize is the world’s leading science award focused on planetary health. It identifies and elevates breakthrough scientific solutions with the greatest potential to address the urgent environmental challenges facing our planet. This year, 19 scientists from across five continents were recognized for their game-changing research.

Dr. Alcolombri, a researcher at the Institute of Life Science at Hebrew University, was awarded in the category of Climate Change Mitigation and Carbon Sequestration for his pioneering study, “Microbial dietary preference and interactions affect the export of lipids to the deep ocean,” published in Science in 2024. His research explores how microbial behavior influences deep-ocean lipid export, providing a novel perspective on the biological processes underlying carbon sequestration in the ocean.

In his work Dr. Alcolombri emphasizes the critical yet underappreciated role of marine bacteria in regulating the Earth's carbon cycle. His findings reveal that bacterial communities have specific dietary preferences and complex interactions that affect the fate of carbon in the ocean—determining whether it is stored in the deep sea or re-released into the atmosphere.

Using techniques such as nano-lipidomics, microfluidics, and lab-constructed microbial ecosystems, the study demonstrates how microbial metabolism can reshape global carbon storage. These insights not only challenge current understanding of these critical processes but may also support the development of future, safe, nature-based strategies for marine carbon sequestration — while reinforcing the importance of protecting oceanic ecosystems.

As a National Champion, Dr. Alcolombri will represent Israel in a global network of thought leaders driving systemic solutions for planetary resilience. The Prize is supported by strategic partners such as Future Earth, the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research, the International Science Council, and the Villars Institute.

The Frontiers Planet Prize Award Ceremony will take place on June 17, 2025, during the Villars Symposium in Villar-sur-Ollon, Switzerland, where the Champions will present their research and collaborate on actionable solutions for the planet.

Read more about Dr. Alcolombri’s work: https://www.science.org/doi/full/10.1126/science.aab2661