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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