The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) administers the Theodore Roosevelt Genius Prize Advisory Council (Council) and its six Boards established in the John D. Dingell, Jr., Conservation, Management, and Recreation Act (Public Law 116-9) and America’s Conservation Enhancement Act (P.L. 116-188).

What We Do

Our Projects and Initiatives

Council Objectives

The Council advises the Secretary of the Interior (Secretary), through the Director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), regarding the six Theodore Roosevelt Genius Prize competitions. 

The Prize competitions encourage technological innovation with the potential to advance the mission of the Service in the following areas of concern: 1) preventing wildlife poaching and trafficking, 2) promoting wildlife conservation, 3) managing invasive species invasive species
An invasive species is any plant or animal that has spread or been introduced into a new area where they are, or could, cause harm to the environment, economy, or human, animal, or plant health. Their unwelcome presence can destroy ecosystems and cost millions of dollars.

Learn more about invasive species
, 4) protecting endangered species, 5) managing nonlethal human-wildlife conflict, and 6) reducing human-predator conflict. 

The Statutes establish six Advisory Boards (Boards) to help implement the Prizes. These Boards are responsible for selecting topics; issuing problem statements; consulting with Federal stakeholders; and advising prize winners regarding opportunities to pilot and implement winning technologies. Each Board must be made up of no fewer than nine members, appointed by the Secretary. 

Additionally, under the Statutes, the Boards have an advisory duty to: develop recommendations for the Secretary regarding opportunities for technological innovation to assist in addressing the statutes’ six areas of concern. Establishment of the Council facilitates FACA compliance for the performance of the Boards’ role advising the Secretary. Visit the Federal Advisory Committee Website.

The Council must be composed of not fewer than 12 members, and not more than 18 members, appointed by the Secretary, who have expertise in:

  • Wildlife trafficking and trade;
  • Wildlife conservation and management;
  • Endangered species;
  • Invasive species;
  • Nonlethal wildlife management;
  • Social aspects of human-wildlife conflict management;
  • Predator-human interactions;
  • Habitats of large predators;
  • Biology;
  • Technology development;
  • Engineering; 
  • Economics; 
  • Business development and management; and
  • Any other discipline that the Secretary determines to be necessary to achieve the purposes of the Council.

Our Services

The Theodore Roosevelt Genius Prize Competitions engage the public to help address six important issues: preventing wildlife poaching and trafficking, promoting wildlife conservation, managing  invasive species invasive species
An invasive species is any plant or animal that has spread or been introduced into a new area where they are, or could, cause harm to the environment, economy, or human, animal, or plant health. Their unwelcome presence can destroy ecosystems and cost millions of dollars.

Learn more about invasive species
, protecting endangered species, managing nonlethal human-wildlife conflict, and reducing human-predator conflict.

For more information click here.  

Our Library

Updated Council Charter

Theodore Roosevelt Genius Prize Advisory Council Charter. The Council advises the Secretary of the Interior, through the Director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, regarding the six Theodore Roosevelt Genius Prize competitions.

The Prize competitions encourage technological...

TRGPC 2022 Winners Summary Slides

Slides highlighting the 2022 TRG Prize Winners with project summaries. 

Agenda Oct 4-6, 2022, TRG Advisory Council Meeting (updated 10/4/2022)

Updated agenda for the Theodore Roosevelt Genius Prize Advisory Council meeting to be held October 4-6, 2022. 

TRG Board Member Bios 2022.pdf

Short biographies for 2022 TRG board members. 

TRG Prize Advisory Council Welcome Letter.pdf

TRG Prize Advisory Council welcome letter for the Oct 4-6 meeting. 

TRG Prize Advisory Council Speaker Bios 2022.pdf

Theodore Roosevelt Genius Prize Advisory Council speaker bios. 

TRG Advisory Council DRAFT Agenda March 9.pdf

TRG Advisory Council draft agenda for March 9, 2023. 

TRGPAC Letter To Secretary May 02 2023.pdf

TRG advisory council letter to U.S. Department of the Interior Secretary Haaland.