BZS Announces 2026 Scholarship Recipients
The Bermuda Zoological Society has announced Trey Maybury, Luke Foster and Ian Da Silva as recipients of its 2026 Steinhoff Scholarship and Education Awards.
A spokesperson said, “The Bermuda Zoological Society [BZS] is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2026 Steinhoff Scholarship and Education Award. Trey Maybury and Luke Foster were awarded the Steinhoff Scholarship and Ian Da Silva received an educational grant to support their current educational pursuits. The awards provide support for Bermudian students pursuing degrees in the environmental sciences at an accredited institution.
“Robert ‘Bob’ Steinhoff, former BZS president, established the scholarship in 2009 to provide an opportunity for Bermudians to pursue their environmental passions and to develop future stewards for our environment. His dedication and support to education and conservation continues to inspire the next generation of Bermudian scientists and environmentalists, particularly as at the time there were no scholarships available for Bermudians to specifically study the environmental sciences.
“The award is given to students in the final two years of study in a bachelor’s or working towards a master’s or doctorate in their chosen field. Many of the past recipients have made considerable contributions to protecting Bermuda’s environment, returning back to Bermuda to work in environmental fields, including returning to work at the Bermuda Aquarium, Museum & Zoo [BAMZ] and at BZS.”
“This Scholarship was founded because we saw a growing number of Bermudians who were passionate about our environment and wanted to become environmental stewards. At the time scholarships existed for pursuits like business and medicine, but very few opportunities existed for those wishing to study environmental science or environmental management,” Mr. Steinhoff said.
“This scholarship was created to fill that gap, giving Bermudians the chance to pursue their environmental passions while investing in the future caretakers of our island environment. This year’s recipients are a wonderful reflection of that vision with each bringing real talent and genuine passion to the field, and each poised to become the kind of environmental steward this scholarship was designed to support.”
The spokesperson said, “Trey Maybury is entering his fourth year at Virginia Tech’s Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, where this scholarship will support him in his final year. Mr. Maybury’s path into environmental science was shaped by his time working in the Zoo at BAMZ, where he came to see animal health and environmental health as inseparable.”
“When I was first exposed to keystone species and the niches they fill in environmental management, I found an avenue I could take to combine my passion for conservation and environmental sustainability with my love of comparative medicine,” he said.
The spokesperson said, “He hopes to become a comparative theriogenologist, splitting his career between working abroad and consulting in Bermuda.
“Luke Foster has just completed his second year studying zoology at the University of Leeds and is currently on a study abroad program in Indonesia, which this scholarship will help support.”
“I was inspired to study in the environmental science field through my passion for wildlife photography and biodiversity recording,” said Mr Foster, who was recently credited as being the first to photograph several local species, and is one of the top observers in iNaturalist, an online platform where nature enthusiasts share wildlife photography often used by researchers to gain insightful data. He hopes to become an impactful conservationist and scientist in Bermuda, contributing meaningfully to our understanding of the island’s ecosystems.
The spokesperson said, “Ian Da Silva is attending the University of Birmingham to pursue a Master of Science in Environment, Development and Politics. Mr. Da Silva’s interest in the field took root during his Bachelor of Science in Biological Science, when he conducted research on Marine Conservation Zones in Gibraltar.”
“I felt my work had directly contributed to the betterment of the public,” he said. Mr. Da Silva’s long-term goal is bringing his skills home to contribute to Bermuda’s environmental future.
Ron Lucas, BZS Scholarship committee member, said: “Successful candidates consistently demonstrate genuine passion for the environment, strong academic performance and a clear commitment to applying their knowledge to protect Bermuda’s ecosystems. The scholarship committee was incredibly impressed with the dedication and passion of the recipients in the pursuit of their educational goals. It is clear that they have a genuine passion for making a difference in Bermuda, and we look forward to seeing what the future holds for each of them. Bob deserves real credit for his vision over the years, and I’m proud to help carry that vision forward as a member of the committee.”
The spokesperson said, “The mission of the BZS is to inspire appreciation and care of island environments through education and conservation programmes with a vision that every student adopts attitudes and skills that result in a commitment to a sustainable social and natural environment.”
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