Justin Kitzes won a Bezos Earth Fund AI Grand Challenge grant

Justin Kitzes, an associate professor in the Kenneth P. Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences’ Department of Biological Sciences, was part of a team selected as one of 15 global awardees in the Bezos Earth Fund’s AI for Climate and Nature Grand Challenge.

In partnership with the National Audubon Society and WildMon, Kitzes will use the $2 million award to deepen and extend the work of combining community-based conservation with artificial intelligence tools that identify birds by their songs. The project equips local partners with autonomous recording units — small devices that continuously record the natural soundscape, capturing bird songs and other wildlife calls. These recordings are analyzed using AI in a process known as passive acoustic monitoring, which helps track species’ presence and abundance trends over time.

By listening to nature in this way, Kitzes and his partners will gather vital information about how wildlife is responding to climate and habitat changes — helping communities better manage their lands and strengthen conservation across the Tropical Andes.

Launched in 2024, the Bezos Earth Fund’s AI for Climate and Nature Grand Challenge is a $100 million initiative designed to demonstrate how AI can drive measurable progress for people and nature. The initiative supports innovators developing responsible, science-based AI solutions that accelerate environmental action and connects them with resources and mentorship from leading technology partners, including AWS, Google, NVIDIA and Microsoft.

Read more about Kitzes’ work on the Dietrich School site.