Steven Amstrup facts for kids

Steven C. Amstrup was born on February 4, 1950. He is an American zoologist who studies bears, especially polar bears. He won the Indianapolis Prize in 2012 for his important work.

Steven Amstrup's Early Life and Studies

Steven Amstrup was born in Fargo, North Dakota. He became interested in bears when he was young. He went to the University of Washington and earned a degree in forestry in 1972.

Later, in 1975, he got his master's degree in wildlife management from the University of Idaho. For this, he studied black bears in central Idaho. He then earned his doctoral degree from the University of Alaska Fairbanks in 1995.

Studying Polar Bears in Alaska

In 1975, Steven Amstrup started working for the United States Fish and Wildlife Service in Wyoming. There, he studied animals like pronghorn antelope. In 1980, he moved to Alaska. He began leading the Polar Bear Research Project there.

In 1996, his research job moved to the United States Geological Survey. For 30 years in Alaska, he studied how polar bears live. He mostly focused on the bears in the Beaufort Sea.

Protecting Polar Bears

In 2007, Steven Amstrup and his team wrote nine reports. These reports helped show that polar bears were in danger. Because of their work, in 2008, polar bears were listed as a threatened species. This means they are protected under the Endangered Species Act.

In 2010, he wrote an article for the science magazine Nature. He explained that if climate change caused all the polar ice to melt, the ice could come back if the Earth cooled down later. Since 2006, he has also taught at the University of Wyoming.

Awards for Conservation

Steven Amstrup's work to protect polar bears was honored in 2012. The Indianapolis Zoo gave him their special Indianapolis Prize. This award is given every two years. Later that same year, he received an Our Earth Bambi Award in Germany.

Working for Polar Bear Conservation

After retiring in 2010, Steven Amstrup became the chief scientist for Polar Bears International. During his career, he saw how climate change affects polar bears and their homes in the Arctic. Now, he works to help polar bears and encourages people to take action against climate change.

Steven Amstrup's Personal Life

Steven Amstrup is married. He and his wife are building a house in northeast Washington that uses energy wisely.