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Weed Science Society of America Announces Winners in Annual Scientific Awards Program

Nearly two dozen individuals from academia, government and private industry were honored by the Weed Science Society of America (WSSA) for their outstanding contributions to the field of weed science.

The annual awards were presented during WSSA’s 49th Annual Meeting in Orlando, Florida.

“Our annual WSSA awards program honors individuals from around the globe who are all-stars in their profession,” said Jeffrey Derr, Ph.D., of Virginia Tech, president of WSSA. “They conduct breakthrough research, promote weed science education, or devote their time and energy to the profession in other significant ways.”

The awards committee was chaired by Lori Wiles, Ph.D., who works with the USDA’s Agricultural Research Service in Colorado. Awards were presented in 11 categories to the individuals listed below:

        • WSSA Fellow is the highest honor bestowed upon WSSA members. Only 0.25 percent of the membership may be selected for Fellowship in any given year. These members have been part of the organization for at least a decade and have made substantial contributions to the field of weed science.
          Karen Renner, Ph.D.
          Professor, Department of Crop and Soil Sciences
          Michigan State University
          East Lansing, Michigan
          Michael Barrett, Ph.D.
          Chair, Plant and Soil Sciences Department
          University of KentuckyLexington, Kentucky

          A. Richard Bonanno, Ph.D.
          Extension Weed Science Educator and Adjunct Professor
          University of Massachusetts
          Amherst, Massachusetts
        • Outstanding Research Award for a WSSA member whose original, creative work has made an impact on the weed science field.
          Ragahavan Charudattan, Ph.D.
          Professor, Plant Pathology Dept., College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
          University of Florida
          Gainesville, Florida
        • Outstanding Industry Award honoring the professional achievements of a WSSA member employed in private industry.
          Nelroy E. Jackson, Ph.D.
          Consultant in Vegetation Management
          Corona, California
        • Outstanding Graduate Student Award for an M.S. or Ph.D. candidate in weed science receiving an advanced degree within the past year.
          Todd Gaines
          Doctoral Candidate
          Colorado State University
          Fort Collins, Colorado
        • Outstanding Extension Award for an individual exhibiting excellence in weed science extension outreach activities.
          Chris Boerboom, Ph.D.
          Professor and Extension Weed Scientist
          University of Wisconsin-Madison
          Madison, Wisconsin
        • Outstanding Early Career Weed Scientist Award for a member age 40 or less who has demonstrated originality and creativity and has made a notable contribution to the discipline.
          Christy L. Sprague, Ph.D.
          Associate Professor and Extension Specialist
          Michigan State University
          East Lansing, Michigan
        • Outstanding Paper in the Journal Invasive Plant Science and Management

          “Quantifying Invasiveness of Plants: A Test Case with Yellow Toadflax (Linaria vulgaris).” Invasive Plant Science and Management 1:319-325.

          Erik A. Lehnhoff, Ph.D.
          Assistant Director for Research, Center for Invasive Plant Management
          Montana State University
          Bozeman, Montana

          Lisa J. Rew, Ph.D.
          Assistant Professor of Non-Native Plant Ecology, Department of Land Resources and Environmental Science
          Montana State University
          Bozeman, Montana

          Bruce D. Maxwell, Ph.D.
          Professor of Agroecology/Weed Ecology, Department of Land Resources and Environmental Science
          Montana State University
          Bozeman, Montana

          Mark L. Taper, Ph.D.
          Research Associate and Associate Professor, Department of Ecology
          Montana State University
          Bozeman, Montana

        • Outstanding Paper in the Journal Weed Science

          “Heterologous Hybridization of Cotton Microarrays with Velvetleaf (Abutilon theophrasti) Reveals Physiological Responses Due to Corn Competition.” Weed Science 55:546-557.

          David Horvath, Ph.D.
          Scientist
          USDA Agricultural Research Service
          Fargo, North Dakota

          Danny Llewellyn, Ph.D.
          Sub-Program Leader of Genomics and Plant Development
          Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization
          Clayton South VIC, Australia

          Sharon A. Clay, Ph.D.
          Professor, Plant Science
          South Dakota State University
          Brookings, South Dakota

        • Outstanding Paper in the Journal Weed Technology

          “Contrasting Responses of Weed Communities and Crops to 12 Years of Tillage and Fertilization Treatments.” Weed Technology 22:309-317.

          Anne Légère, Ph.D.
          Research Scientist
          Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
          Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada

          Craig Stevenson, Ph.D.
          Consultant
          Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada

          Noura Ziadi, Ph.D.
          Research Scientist
          Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
          Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
        • Outstanding Reviewers Award for excellence in the review of articles for WSSA journals.
          John F. Gaskin, Ph.D.
          Research Leader, Pest Management Research Unit
          USDA Agricultural Research Service
          Sidney, Montana
          Joel Felix, Ph.D.
          Assistant Professor and Weed Scientist
          Oregon State University, Malheur Agricultural Experiment Station
          Ontario, Oregon
        • Honorary Member Award to recognize significant contributions to the field of weed science.
          Hiroshi Matsumoto, Ph.D.
          Professor, Graduate School of Life and Environmental Sciences
          University of Tsukuba
          Tsukuba, Japan
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About the Weed Science Society of America:
The Weed Science Society of America, a nonprofit professional society, was founded in 1956 to encourage and promote the development of knowledge concerning weeds and their impact on the environment. The Weed Science Society of America promotes research, education and extension outreach activities related to weeds, provides science-based information to the public and policy makers, and fosters awareness of weeds and their impacts on managed and natural ecosystems. For more information, visithttp://www.wssa.net.

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