PRESS RELEASE
Calling all creatives and conservationists! LAMAVE launches a new fellowship program and a photography prize
PUERTO PRINCESA CITY—The Large Marine Vertebrates Research Institute Philippines (LAMAVE), a marine conservation NGO, today announces the launch of a new initiative designed to support young Filipinos advocating for environmental conservation through impact media.
LAMAVE, which has research sites across the Philippines, uses science, education and collaboration with local communities and governments to help safeguard the future of marine megafauna — whale sharks, sharks, rays, sea turtles, among many others — in Southeast Asia. In the Philippines, LAMAVE’s work includes managing the national catalog of three endangered species.
The Tommy Schultz Impact Media Fellowship (TSIMF) is a unique program for early-career creatives focused on conservation storytelling in the Philippines, and who are looking to refine their skills in impact media, or work with measurable impact. The program supports their professional development through a three-month placement with LAMAVE, during which fellows will receive training and mentorship on the following areas in the field of conservation and communication: how to creatively tackle conservation challenges; recognizing and reaching key audiences; and identifying measurable impacts.
The fellowship is open to different creatives from the Philippines — initially with a focus on filmmakers and photographers. The key focus of the fellowship will be to produce a piece of work that contributes to conservation actions and has measurable impact.
“We’re very excited to be able to widen the scope of our work by getting more young Filipinos involved and providing the future generation of conservation storytellers with practical skills whose impact can be properly measured,”
“Storytelling is an incredibly powerful tool and when paired with calls to action, we can measure the impact of the work, helping to know what works and what doesn’t, and paving the way for real conservation action on the ground.”
- Sally Snow, Communications Director for LAMAVE.
To learn more about the fellowship program, click here, or visit www.lamave.org/tommy-schultz-impact-media-fellowship. Application will open in early 2023.
The TSIMF is in memory of the late travel and adventure photographer Tommy Schultz, who spent several years living in the Philippines as a volunteer of the US Peace Corps. Much of Tommy’s photography, videography and travel writing focused on capturing the beauty and power of wildlife, and on infusing travel and adventure with a sense of mission to preserve the environment for future generations. Tommy Schultz passed away in June 2021 at the age of 45. The fellowship fund initiated by his family is part of Tommy’s legacy and will continue to grow through the annual photo competition held in his name.
The inaugural Tommy Schultz Travel and Adventure Photography Prize will open on September 29. There will be three competition categories — Adventure Travel, Underwater and Animals in Their Environment. The full competition mechanics will be available at www.lamave.org/tommy-schultz-photography-competition on the competition’s official opening date.
Tommy Schultz on assignment in the Eastern Philippines | Photo by Corey Wills
Notes to Editors:
Large Marine Vertebrates Research Institute Philippines (LAMAVE) is an independent non- profit non-governmental organization dedicated to the conservation of marine megafauna and their habitats in the Philippines. LAMAVE strives for conservation through scientific research, policy and education. For more information visit: www.lamave.org | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter.
Tommy Schultz was a photographer who dedicated his life to telling stories through photography and videography. He made a career of exploring different places in pursuit of the natural beauties the world has to offer. His journey began when, as a Peace Corps volunteer, he was stationed at Silliman University Marine Lab in the Philippines. It was an experience that, paired with his passion for people and the environment, inspired a life-long adventure and taught him life lessons he never stopped pursuing. He always strived to learn. Over the course of his career, Tommy collaborated with National Geographic, Patagonia, The North Face, WWF, LAMAVE and many more. Explore, dream, and discover — Tommy lived his life by these words. His stories, journeys, photographs and countless adventures are his legacy. Hopefully, his life will serve as an inspiration for others to join the great adventure.
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