FACULTY AWARDS:
Prof. Emeritus Arthur Kruckeberg (left, with Dick Jensen, ASPT President) received the 2006 “Peter Raven Award” for scientific outreach in the field of plant systematics from the American Society of Plant Systematics. Art was also honored by the Botanical Society of America with a “Centennial Award.”

Prof. Sam Wasser and the Center for Conservation Biology, have created noninvasive methods to study endangered animals, they train dogs to find scat and then use DNA tests to monitor the health and location of the animals. Recently the lab was featured on KIRO TV, for training dogs that could even track orca whales! Celia Mailand, CCB scientist, and biology graduate ’05, narrated the piece along with training program coordinator, Heath Smith.

Prof. Thomas Ebrey is this year’s recipient of the American Society for Photobiology’s Research Award, given to one person every year for his/her lifetimes’ research achievements. Ebrey also received recognition in a special issue of the July 2006 journal Photochemistry and Photobiology presented on the occasion of his 65th birthday, with all the articles written by his former students, post docs, and collaborators.

Prof. Lynn Riddiford is being honored by the Entomological Foundation for her many outstanding contributions to entomology. She will be recognized at their upcoming annual meeting of the Entomological Society of America in December.

Prof. P. Dee Boersma received a Distinguished Service Award from the Society for Conservation Biology at its annual meeting in June. A recognized leader in the field, Dee is well-known for her research on seabirds, in particular Magellanic penguins in Argentina. She currently serves as executive editor of the SCB publication Conservation In Practice, which also won a gold award, with special thanks to Kathy Kohm.

Prof. Keiko Torri won the 2006 Prize for Young Japanese Female Scientist of Excellence from The Society of Japanese Women Scientists (SJWS). It’s an award for all disciplines of Sciences, Math, Engineering and Medicines. This award is for Japanese female scientists who are expected to make a significant contribution to the advancement of science, and in addition promoting participation of women in science. Only two people receive this award per year.

STUDENT AWARDS:
Sariah Khormaee was awarded UW President’s Medalist 2006, Marshall Scholar, and NIH Career Award. Sariah graduated with College Honors in Neurobiology and Biochemistry. She has long been interested in ophthalmology, and would like o pursue studies at Cambridge University with the goal of developing accessible and affordable treatments worldwide for the cure of blindness.

Stacey DeAmicis (right), Botany major and staff member, is off to graduate school in England with a full scholarship from the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation. This year was the first time UW students ever applied for this prestegious scholarship, competing against a national pool of 1400 applicants. There were a total of 65 recipients this year. Natacha Chough (left), a biology major ‘01, was chosen to attend medical school this fall.

Peter Berberian, senior, majoring in Neurobiology& Anthropology, and Erin Savage, senior, majoring in Biology were chosen as 2006 Bonderman Fellows for world travel. They will each receive $20,000 to set off on solo journeys that are at least eight months long and take them to at least six countries in two major regions of the world. While traveling, students may not pursue academic study, projects, or research. Established in 1995, this fellowship aims to expose students to the intrinsic, often life-changing, benefits of international travel. Five undergraduate Honors students and five graduate students from a variety of disciplines were selected for this prestigious award.

Sean Hughes received a Goldwater Scholarship and is pursuing degrees in Biochemistry, Neurobiology, and Danish. He hopes to study the brain and medicine, ideally in Denmark.

Alumni Accomplishments:
Flock of Dodos, The Evolution-Intelligent Design Circus A new film was created in the tradition of “Super Size Me”, by evolutionary ecologist-turned-filmmaker Dr. Randy Olson. Olsen was an undergraduate zoology major at UW and got his PhD at Harvard (under the tutelage of the now Friday Harbor Labs Director, Ken Sebens).

Departmental Accomplishments:
Biology won the Goldstar Award from the UW Graduate & Professional Student Senate (GPSS). This award was created to identify and encourage superior graduate student services and commitment to enhancing the student experience within a department. Thanks to the outstanding leadership of Judy Farrow, Counseling Services Coordinator, and Prof. H.D. Toby Bradshaw, who gave vision and energy as Associate Chair for Graduate Program, stellar graduate students, and all of the rest of the people that makes this Department a wonderful place to learn and grow.

Big Funding for Biology from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute: We received a $1.6 million award for 4 years for a variety of programs. The overall aim is to improve the quality of science education at large research universities such as ours. Prof. Barbara Wakimoto, Project Manager & Washington Research Foundation Professor also credited: Bette Nicotri, Helen Buttemer, Merrill Hille, Karen Peterson, Clarissa Dirks, Matt Cunningham, Katie Glew, Brian Buchwitz, and Louise Edmunds.

Did we miss anyone? Please tell us about your awards, achievements, and announcements so we can add them to future Biology Newsletters and/or put them up in the News Section on our website.

Please email your awards and announcements to: bluefish@u.washington.edu