The Bermuda Zoological Society has offered financial support for three young men looking to pursue careers in the sciences.

Trey Maybury and Luke Foster were named the recipients of the 2026 Steinhoff Scholarship, while Ian Da Silva received an educational grant to support his educational pursuits.

Ron Lucas, BZS Scholarship committee member, said all three successful candidates demonstrated a genuine passion for the environment along with strong academic performances and commitment to use their knowledge to protect Bermuda’s ecosystems.

He added: “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.”

Mr Maybury, who is entering his fourth year at Virginia Tech’s Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, said his time working at the Bermuda Aquarium Museum and Zoo helped inspire his passion for environmental science.

He said: “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.”

Mr Foster, meanwhile, recently completed his second year studying zoology at the University of Leeds and has begun a study abroad programme in Indonesia.

He said he developed an interest in environmental science through his passion for wildlife photography and biodiversity recording.

Mr Foster is 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.

Mr Da Silva is pursuing a Master of Science in Environment, Development and Politics at the University of Birmingham.

He said his interest in environmental science took root while he was conducting research on marine conservation zones in Gibraltar.

Mr Da Silva added: “I felt my work had directly contributed to the betterment of the public.”

Robert “Bob” Steinhoff, who established the scholarship in 2009, said the award was created to support young Bermudians who were passionate about the environment and wanted to become environmental stewards.

He said: “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.

“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.”