Botanical Society of America Awards 2006
We are pleased to announce the recipients of the 2006 awards as
to be presented at the Botanical Society of America Banquet held at the Botany
2006 Conference in Chico, Calofornia. Recognition of and support for the outstanding
efforts and contributions to the science of botany are an important part of
the role the participating societies play. We thank you for your support of
these programs. The awards given this year include:
The Botanical Society of America's MERIT
AWARD
The Merit Award is the highest honor given by the Botanical Society of America.
It is given in recognition of outstanding contributions to the science of botany.
This year we are pleased to honor:
Dr. Ruth Stockey, University
of Alberta
Dr. Ruth Stockey is recognized for her contributions to paleobotany, especially
to our understanding of the anatomy and development of fossil conifers and angiosperms.
Dr. Stockey has been a member of the Botanical Society of America for more than
30 years. She began her research career elucidating the structure and development
of fossil conifers and is recognized as the world's expert in this area. Since
moving to the University of Alberta, she has concentrated on anatomically preserved
fossil angiosperms, providing data on floral structure, development, and phylogeny
in these ancient plants. Her research has been supported by the Natural Sciences
and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) of Canada for more than 26 years. Dr.
Stockey is truly an "ambassador of botany" and is involved in collaborative
work with colleagues around the world; her letters of support came from five
countries! She is an enthusiastic teacher and her support and training of students
is exceptional--one student began research in her laboratory in high school,
and received her Ph.D. this year. For her many contributions to paleobotany,
including her dedication to training the next generation of botanists, the BSA
is proud to recognize Dr. Ruth A. Stockey with its highest award.
Dr. Barbara Webster , University
of California, Davis
Dr. Barbara Webster is recognized for her many contributions to plant development
and structure. Her early work focused on abscission and senescence in higher
plants, and included anatomy, ultrastructure, histochemistry, and physiology,
as well as experimental work, especially on the genus Phaseolus. Beginning
in the 1970s, Dr. Webster began to concentrate more on reproductive biology,
but she has contributed to a wide range of topics, including nitrogen fixation
in the legumes, environmental stress, and yield of crop plants. Her impressive
publishing career spans more than five decades and includes more than 100
published papers and book chapters; her research has been supported by the
National Science Foundation, the USDA and USAID. Dr. Webster was truly a pioneer
in advocating for increased participation of women and minorities in science,
and has served as a role model and mentor to both undergraduate and graduate
students in plant biology. She is a fellow of the American Association for
the Advancement of Science and the American Society for Horticultural Science,
served as Treasurer and President of the Botanical Society of America, and
has served as Associate Vice-Chancellor for Research at the University of
California, Davis since 1989. As one letter writer noted, "It is hard
to believe that Barbara has not already received this award." For her
numerous contributions in many arenas to the field of botany, the BSA is proud
to recognize Dr. Barbara D. Webster with its highest award.
Jeanette Siron Pelton Award
The Jeanette Siron Pelton Award is given for sustained
and imaginative productivity in the field of experimental plant morphology.
Dr. Tobias Baskin, University of Massachusetts, Amherst
is the 2006 awardee. Dr. Baskin is recognized for his research into how plants control their
shape via cellulose microfibrils and the microtubule cytoskeleton. He has
made fundamental contributions to our understanding of how local cortical
microtubule organization is related to microfibril orientation, which constrains
cell and, ultimately, organ growth in longitudinal and radial directions.
He has combined physiological, cytological, ultrastructural and genetic approaches
to his studies of cell growth, and is credited with important innovations
of microscopic techniques. Dr. Baskin is currently investigating the interaction
of specific proteins with cortical microtubules, the plasmamembrane, and the
cellulose synthase complexes in the membrane, to critically evaluate his proposed
model of cell wall control of its own microfibril orientation. This award
is from the Conservation and Research Foundation, based on the nomination
by the BSA Pelton Award Committee, and includes a check and a certificate.
This award also includes a Jeanette Siron Pelton Award Address,which will
be given at the Botany 2007 conference in Chicago, Illinois.
Darbaker Prize
The Darbaker Prize is given each year in memory of Dr. Leasure
K. Darbaker, for meritorious work in the study of microscopic algae.
Dr. Charles Delwiche, University of Maryland at College
Park is the 2006 awardee. The award recognizes his excellent research on a
wide variety of algae, resulting in significant contributions to the literature
in many fields. These include molecular systematics and genetics of green
algae and dinoflagellates, genomics of microalgae, molecular evolution of
microalgae, and structure and function of microalgae.
The Henry Allan Gleason Award
Each year The New York Botanical Garden presents the Henry Allan Gleason
Award for an outstanding publication in the field of plant taxonomy, plant
ecology, or plant geography.
Dr. Michael G. Simpson is the Gleason Award recipient for
2006 for his book, Plant Systematics, published by Elsevier Academic Press.
This publication, many years in the making, represents a masterly treatment
of vascular plant groups and the principles of plant systematics as well as
incorporating the latest concepts in phulogenetics and methodologies. It is
erudite and most importantly - user friendly, especially students. This text
will serve as the standard for many years to come.
Lawrence Memorial Award
The Lawrence Memorial Fund was established at the Hunt Institute for Botanical
Documentation, Carnegie Mellon University, to commemorate the life and achievements
of its founding director, Dr. George H. M. Lawrence. Proceeds from the Fund
are used to make an annual Award in the amount of $2000 to a doctoral candidate
to support travel for dissertation research in systematic botany or horticulture,
or the history of the plant sciences. The Lawrence Memorial Award for 2006
goes to Eric Schuettplez, a student of Dr. Kathleen M. Pryer
at Duke University. For his dissertation research, Mr. Schuettpelzhas undertaken
a study of understanding the origin of diversification of fern epiphytes..
The proceeds of the Award will help support her travel to Southeast Asia,
for field research.
SPECIAL AWARD
Dr. Edward Schneider , BSA Past President
The Botanical Society of America presented a special award to Dr.
Edward Schneider expressing gratitude and appreciation for outstanding
contributions and support for the Society. Ed has provided exemplary
contributions to the Society in terms of leadership, time and effort.
SPECIAL AWARD
Dr. David Spooner, BSA Immediate Past
Secretary, University of Wisconsin
The Botanical Society of America presented a special award to Dr.
David Spooner expressing gratitude and appreciation for outstanding
contributions and support for the Society.
Charles Edwin Bessey Award
(BSA in association with the Teaching Section and Education Committee)
Dr. W. Hardy Eshbaugh, Miami University, Oxford, Ohio,
Professor Emeritus, Department of Botany. The nomination letters indicate that Hardy has advanced
and broadened botany education for several generations of Miami University students. He pioneered the
development of field courses ranging from introductory level formal courses to public outreach for retirees.
We thank him for his 33 years of formal teaching and his continuing efforts to bring additional understanding of
the natural world to the public at large.
Dr. David W. Lee, Florida International University, Miami, Florida. Peer nominators wish to recognize life-long
effort and creativity demonstrated by Dr. Lee teaching of botany and advocacy for botanical education. His unique
career path began in 1970. It has included extensive research and teaching in the tropics, as well as academic positions in
the United States. We thank him for sharing his love of botany and his desire to communicate about plants to students and the
public in uniquely effective methods.
Vernon I. Cheadle Student Travel
Awards (BSA in association with the Developmental and Structural
Section)
This award was named in honor of the memory and work of Dr. Vernon
I. Cheadle.
Tania Hernandez-Hernandez, Instituto de Biologia, UNAM,
Supervisor - Susana Magallon Puebla
Purbasha Sarkar, Miami University, Oxford, OH, Supervisor
- Dr. Daniel Gladish
Richard Tate, Humboldt State University, Supervisor - Dr.
Alexandru MF Tomescu
Ramona Walls, Stony Brook University, Supervisor - Dr.R.
Geeta
Conant "Botanical Images" Student
Travel Awards
This award provides acknowledgement and travel support to BSA meetings for
outstanding student work in the area of creating botanical digital images.
Jay F. Bolin, Old Dominion University - Frist Place, Submission #5 - $500 Botany 2006 Student Travel
Award
Anna Jacobsen,
Michigan State University - Second Place, Submission #1 - $250 Botany 2006 Student Travel
Award
Ryan McMillen,
Southern Illinois University - Third Place, Submission #14 - $100 Botany 2006 Student
Travel Award
Michael Cichan Award
(Paleobotanical Section)
This award was named in honor of the memory and work of Michael A Cichan,
who died in a plane crash in August of 1987. The Award was established to
encourage work by young researchers at the interface of structural and evolutionary
botany. This award is given to a young scholar for a paper published during
the previous year in the fields of evolutionary and/or structural botany.
No award given in 2006.
Isabel Cookson Award
(Paleobotanical Section)
Established in 1976, the Isabel Cookson Award recognizes the
best student paper presented in the Paleobotanical Section
Selena
Y Smith of the University of Alberta, is the 2006 award recipient for the paper entitled “Fossil
perianthless Piperales: a saururaceous inflorescence and flowers with in situ
pollen from the Princeton Chert.” Co-author was Ruth
Stockey .
Katherine Esau Award (Developmental and Structural Section)
This award was established in 1985 with a gift from Dr. Esau and is augmented
by ongoing contributions from Section members. It is given to the graduate
student who presents the outstanding paper in developmental and structural
botany at the annual meeting.
This year’s award goes to Brigitte Marazzi, from University
of Zurich, for her paper “Diversity
and evolution of anthers in the buzz-pollinated genus Senna
(Leguminosae, Cassiinae).” Co-authors were Elena Conti
and Peter K. Endress
Margaret Menzel Award
(Genetics Section)
The Margaret Menzel Award is presented by the Genetics Section for the outstanding
paper presented in the contributed papers sessions of the annual meetings.
This year’s award goes to Katrina Dlugosch, University
of California Santa Cruz, for the paper “Inbreeding
depression, outbreeding depression, and evolution in founding populations
of an invasive plant." Co-author was Ingrid M. Parker.
Maynard Moseley Award (Paleobotanical
and Developmental and Structural Sections)
The Maynard F. Moseley Award was established in 1995 to honor a career of
dedicated teaching, scholarship, and service to the furtherance of the botanical
sciences. Dr. Moseley, known to his students as “Dr. Mo”, died
Jan. 16, 2003 in Santa Barbara, CA, where he had been a professor since 1949.
He was widely recognized for his enthusiasm for and dedication to teaching
and his students, as well as for his research using floral and wood anatomy
to understand the systematics and evolution of angiosperm taxa, especially
waterlilies. (PSB, Spring, 2003). The award is given to the best student paper,
presented in either the Paleobotanical or Developmental and Structural sessions,
that advances our understanding of plant structure in an evolutionary context.
Yannick Staedler, from Universität Zürich, is the 2006
Moseley Award recipient, for his paper “Floral
architecture and phyllotaxis in Calycanthaceae (Laurales)” Co-authors
were Peter H. Weston, Peter K. Endress.
Winfried and Renate Remy Award (Paleobotanical
Section)
This award was established in 1997 in honor of the life and work of Winfried
and Renate Remy. It is given for the best published paper in paleobotany or
palynology during the previous year. No award given in 2006
A.J. Sharp Award
(Bryological and Lichenological Section)
The A.J. Sharp Award is presented each year by the American Bryological
and Lichenological Society and the Bryological and Lichenological Section
for the best student presentation. The award, named in honor of the late Jack
Sharp, encourages student research on bryophytes and lichens.
This year’s A.J. Sharp Award goes to Norm Wickett,
University of Connecticut, for his paper "Towards
a complete chloroplast genome sequence of the non-photosynthetic
liverwort Cryptothallus
mirabilis"
Edgar T. Wherry Award
(Pteridological Section and the American Fern Society)
The Edgar T. Wherry Award is given for the best paper presented during the
contributed papers session of the Pteridological Section. This award is in
honor of Dr. Wherry’s many contributions to the floristics and patterns
of evolution in ferns. This year’s award goes to Eric Shuettpelz,
Duke University, for his paper; " Toward
a comprehensive phylogeny of extant ferns"
The BSA Graduate Student Research
Award including the J. S. Karling Award
The BSA Graduate Student Research Awards support graduate student research
and are made on the basis of research proposals and letters of recommendations.
Withing the award group is the Karling Graduate Student Research Award. This
award was instituted by the Society in 1997 with funds derived through a generous
gift from the estate of the eminent mycologist, John Sidney Karling (1897-1994),
and supports and promotes graduate student research in the botanical sciences.
The 2006 award recipients are:
J. S. Karling Graduate Student Research
Award
Joshua W. Clayton, University of Florida, Department of Botany,
(Supervisor: Dr. Doug Soltis) - "Molecular Phylogeny and
Biogeography of Simaroubaceae s.s. (Sapindales)"
BSA Graduate Student Research Awards
Monica Carlsen, University of Missouri – St. Louis,
Department of Biology and Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis. (Supervisor:
Dr. Peter Stevens) – “A Revision of the Sectional
Classification in Anthurium (Araceae) Integrating Morphology and Molecular Phylogenetics”
Kate Hertweck, University of Missouri Columbia, Department
of Biological Sciences (Supervisor: Dr. J. Chris Pires) – “Population
dynamics of polyploidy: Phylogenetics, cytogenetics, and hybridization of Tradescantia”
Jamie H. Howard, Arizona State University, School of Life Sciences
Graduate Program (Supervisor: Dr. Martin F. Wojciechowski) – “Symbiotic
Specificity of Irlc (Fabaceae) and Rhizobia with Unsaturated Fatty Acid-type
Nod Factors: An Evolutionary Perspective”
Gretchen M. Ionta, University of Florida, Department of Botany
(Supervisor: Dr. Walter Judd) – “A phylogenetic
analysis of Periplocoideae (Apocynaceae s.l.) and insights into the evolution
of pollinia”
Aaron Jenks, University of California, Riverside, Department
of Botany and Plant Sciences, (Supervisor: Dr. Seung-Chul Kim) – “Phylogeny
and Biogeography of Salvia L. subgenus Calosphace (Benth.)
Benth.”
Gabriel P. Johnson, Southern Illinois University, Department
of Plant Biology (Supervisor: Dr. Karen S. Renzaglia) – “Developmental
changes in the placental transfer cells of Ceratopteris richardii”
Suzanne Joneson, Duke University, Biology Department (Supervisor:
Dr. François Lutzoni) – “Differential
Gene Expression in Early Algal and Fungal Lichen Symbiosis”
Marcela Martínez Millán, Cornell University,
L. H. Bailey Hortorium and Department of Plant Biology (Supervisor: Dr. William
L. Crepet) – “A Revision of the Early Fossil
Record of Astridae”
Cynthia Skema, Cornell University, L.H. Bailey Hortorium (Supervisor:
Dr. Melissa Luckow) – “Systematics of Dombeya
(Malvaceae s.1.)”
The BSA Young Botanist Awards
The purpose of these awards are to offer individual recognition to outstanding
graduating seniors in the plant sciences and to encourage their participation
in the Botanical Society of America. The 2006 award recipients are:
John C. Benedict, Arizona State University, Department of
Biology, Advisor - Dr. Kathleen B. Pigg
Meagan Coneybeer, Denison University, Department of Biological
Sciences, Advisor - Dr. Warren Hauk
Justin Cummings, Eastern Illinois University, Department of
Biological Sciences, Advisor - Dr. Scott J. Meiners
Allison S. Doores, Truman State University, Division of Science,
Advisor - Dr. Jeffery Osborn
Matthew Dumlao, University of California, Davis, Department
of Plant Sciences, Advisor - Dr. Judy Jernstedt
Faiza Fakhar, Miami University, Botany Department, Advisor
- Dr. Michael A. Vincent
Veder Garcia, University of Maryland, Department of Cell Biology
and Molecular Genetics, College Park, Advisor - Dr. Todd Cooke
Scott Gevaert, Saint Louis University, Department of Biology,
Advisor - Dr. Janet C. Barber
Keith Gilland, Miami University, Botany Department, Advisor
- Dr. Carolyn Howes Keiffer
Vincent Hustad, Eastern Illinois University, Department of
Biological Sciences, Advisor - Dr. Andrew S. Methven
Alana Oldham, Humboldt State University, Department of Biological
Sciences, Advisor - Dr. Alexandru MF Tomescu
Elizabeth (Ely) Huerta Ortiz, University of California, Davis,
Department of Plant Sciences, Advisor - Dr. Judy Jernstedt
Michael J. Patterson, James Madison University, Department
of Biology, Advisor - Dr. Conley K. McMullen
Melissa Schwind, Miami University, Botany Department, Advisor
- Dr. John Kiss
Andrew B. Schwendemann, Truman State University, Division of
Science, Advisor - Dr. Jeffery Osborn
Dianne Velasco, University of California, Davis, Department
of Plant Sciences, Advisor - Dr. Judy Jernstedt
Developmental & Structural Section
Student Travel Awards
As voted upon by the membership of the section in 1996, an annual drive
will be initiated to generate contributions from the sectional membership.
These support student attendance at the annual meetings of the Botanical Society
of America. Donations will be solicited in units equivalent to the current
student registration fee (this year, for example, $200). In essence, each
contributor will effectively sponsor the attendance of one or more students.
Lara, Strittmatter
Athena D. McKown
Cary Pirone
Theresa Meis Chormanski
Anna Jacobsen
MacKenzie Taylor
Theresa Meis Chormanski
Garbiel Johnson
Developmental & Structural Section Best Student
Poster Award
Athena D. McKnown, University of Toronto for her paper
“Key
innovations in evolution of Kranz anatomy in Flaveria”
Ecology Section Award, Best Student
Presentation
Cristina Aragón, of Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, for
the paper “Relationship
between physiological status and fitness-related traits in a semi-arid specialist,
Helianthemum
squamatum,
in two contrasting scenarios”
Ecology Section Award, Best Student
Poster
Jessica Rabenold, of University of Missouri-Columbia for
the paper “Friend
or foe: effects of ants on fitness of an alpine wildflower, Polemonium
viscosum”
Ecology Section Student Travel Awards
Rebecca Anderson, Illinois State University, Advisor: Dr.
Diane L. Byers for her Botany 2006 presentation entitled: "Selection
and Adaptation in Heterogeneous Soil Nutrient Environments".
Marissa Jernegan, Eastern Illinois University, Advisor:
Dr. Janice Coons for her Botany 2006 presentation entitled: "Seed
Longevity of Lesquerella ludoviciana, an Endangered Species of the
Illinois Sand Prairie".
Genetics Section Student Poster Award
The Genetics Section Poster Award is given for the best student poster at
the annual meetings.
This year’s award is given to Nyssa Temmel, University
of British Columbia, for the poster “Identifying
the genes involved in gender differentiation in Populus
trichocarpa
”
Genetics Section Graduate Student
Research Awards
The 2006 recipient of the Genetics Section Graduate Student Research Awards,
each of which provides $500 for research funds and an additional $500 for
attendance at a future BSA meeting, is: Jill Durante of Pennsylvania
State University
Phycological Section Student Travel
Award
Nestor Anzola, University of Southern Mississippi, Advisor:
Dr. George F. Pessoney
for his Botany 2006 presentation entitled; "Algae
From the Pascagoula River Basin: Phytoplankton Responses to Water Chemistry
Dynamic in Small Streams"
Physiological Section Student Prizes
- Best Paper
Sarah Kimball, University of California Irvine for her talk “Physiological Differences Maintain Species in a Natural Plant Hybrid Zone.."
Her co-authors was Diane R. Campbell.
Ken Moriuchi, Florida State University for his talk “Genetic differences in patterns of growth, development, and plastic response to environmental quality in a perennial plant.."
Physiological Section Li-Cor Prize
Erika Sudderth, for her talk “Physiological performance of C3, C4, and intermediate Flaveria species in the Tehuaca?Ln Valley of Mexico." Her co-author was
Noel M. Holbrook.
Pteridological Section Student Travel Awards
Michael S. Barker, Indiana University, Advisor: Dr. Loren
Rieseberg for his Botany 2006 presentation entitled: "Inferring
paleopolyploidy in homosporous ferns using duplicate gene age distributions"
Joshua Der, Utah State University, Advisor: Dr. Paul Wolf for his Botany 2006 presentation entitled: "A
global phylogeographic study of the chloroplast genome in bracken (Pteridium:
Dennstaedtiaceae)"
Amanda Grusz, University of North Carolina - Wilmington,
Advisor: Dr. Kathleen M. Pryer for her Botany 2006 presentation entitled: "Polyploids
and reticulate voids: the Cheilanthes fenderli complex revisited"
Chad E. Husby, Florida International University, Advisor:
Dr. Steven Oberbauer for his Botany 2006 presentation entitled: "Salinity
tolerance ecophysiology of the giant horsetail, Equisetum giganteum, in the
Atacoma Desert, Chile"
Annabelle Kleist, Carroll College, Advisor: Dr. Jennifer
Geiger for her Botany 2006 presentation entitled: "Alternate
pathways of fern dispersal to the Hawaiian Islands, Part 3: Cibotium"
Eric Shuettpelz, Duke University, Advisor: Dr. Kathleen
M. Pryer for his Botany 2006 presentation entitled; " Toward
a comprehensive phylogeny of extant ferns"
Southeastern Section Student Travel
Award
Brent A. McMillan, Old Dominion University, Advisor: Dr.
Lytton Musselman
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