Botanical Society of America Awards 2007

We are pleased to announce the recipients of the 2007 awards provided by the Botanical Society of America. Here we provide recognition for outstanding efforts and contributions to the science of botany. We thank you for your support of these programs. The awards given so far this year include:

THE GRADY L. WEBSTER AWARD

This award was established in 2006 by Dr. Barbara D. Webster, Grady’s wife, and Dr. Susan V. Webster, his daughter, to honor the life and work of Dr. Grady L. Webster. The American Society of Plant Taxonomists and the Botanical Society of America are pleased to join together in honoring Grady Webster.

The BSA component of the award, the Grady L. Webster Structural Botany Publication Award recognizes the most outstanding paper published in the American Journal of Botany or other publication over a two-year period.

This year marks the first time that the Webster Award is made by the Botanical Society of America. This year’s $1000 award is made to: Barbara A. Ambrose, Silvia Espinosa-Matías, Sonia Vázquez-Santana, Francisco Vergara-Silva, Esteban Martínez, Judith Márquez-Guzmán, and Elena R. Alvarez-Buylla for their paper entitled, “Comparative developmental series of the Mexican triurids support a euanthial interpretation for the unusual reproductive axes of Lacandonia schismatica (Triuridaceae).”

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. Bruce Baldwin, University of California Berkeley

Dr. Bruce Baldwin is recognized for his contributions in plant systematics. Beginning in graduate school, Dr. Baldwin studied one of the icons of island biogeography, the Hawaiian Silversword Alliance. His dissertation work using chloroplast DNA was one of the pioneers on island plant groups and confirmed that this morphologically diverse group represented a single colonization event from ancestors in North America. Baldwin reconfirmed these results using nuclear genes, the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region. His development of ITS for plant phylogenetic study is perhaps his most widely recognized contribution. Less well-known outside of California is that Dr. Baldwin has made major contributions to plant floristics, through his efforts editing the Jepson Desert Manual and the 2nd edition of the Jepson Manual of California plants. For his many contributions to the systematics of Asteraceae, Hawaiian plant biogeography and evolution, and advances in molecular systematics, the BSA is pleased to recognize Dr. Bruce Baldwin with its highest award.

Dr. William Crepet, Cornell University

Dr. William Crepet is recognized for his contributions in paleobotany, especially the reproductive structures of seed plants. Dr. Crepet's early work on interpreting the development of Cycadeoidea reproductive structure led to a better understanding of the enigmatic fossil group Bennettitales. However, for many, his most important contributions come from his ability to connect fossil and extant plants through phylogenetic study. This is especially true for his contributions to knowledge about fossil angiosperm floral structure, particularly ancient pollination syndromes and their role in flowering plant diversification. For his many contributions to paleobotany and plant phylogeny, the BSA takes pride in recognizing Dr. William Crepet with its highest award.

Dr. Edith Taylor, University of Kansas

Dr. Edith Taylor is recognized for her contributions in paleobotany. Her work has focused on the structure and evolution of fossil plants. Her detailed investigations have permitted the interpretation of functional and ecological aspects of plants, including phloem development, plant/insect interactions, and tree growth and adaptation to high latitudes. For over two decades she has brought to light the diversity of plants once living in present day Antarctica. The wealth of information from these studies has shed light on plant diversity at high latitudes in the southern hemisphere, plant biogeography and evolution, and climate history. For her many contributions to paleobotany, Antarctic paleoclimatology, and the biology and evolution of fossil plants, the BSA is delighted to recognize Dr. Edith Taylor with its highest award.

Charles Edwin Bessey Award (BSA in association with the Teaching Section and Education Committee)

Dr. Thomas Rost, University of California Davis - Tom is Assistant to the Director of International Programs, Professor Emeritus of Plant Biology, and Botanist Emeritus in the Agricultural Experiment Station at the University of California, Davis. He is recognized for his innovative and outstanding teaching in plant anatomy, including early and experimental adoption of technology in his classes. Tom has been active in the BSA Education Committee and in the Structural and Developmental Section. He has published over 140 scientific papers on root growth and development and other anatomical topics, and co-authored four books, including two general botany textbooks. Dr. Rost received the Davis Division Academic Senate Distinguished Teaching Award, which is the highest teaching award make by each UC campus.

Dr. James Wandersee, Louisiana State University - Jim is the LeBlanc Alumni Association professor in the College of Education at LSU, focusing on biological and botanical science education. He is currently the Chair of the Teaching Section of the BSA and has presented many papers and workshops in this section and in the BSA Educational Forum. He helped coin the phrase “plant blindness” which was part of a campaign to help teachers, students, and the general public overcome their inability to notice plants in their own environment, which leads to the inability to recognize the importance of plants in the biosphere and in human affairs. He is a prolific author, with over 100 publications and several books that have been translated into six languages. He was elected a fellow of AAAS, was an officer in the National Association of Biology Teachers, and is the director of the 15 Degree Laboratory, A Visual Cognition Research and Development Laboratory for Improving Biological and Botanical Learning.

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. JoAnn Burkholder, Center for Applied Aquatic Ecology, University of North Carolina State University is the 2007 awardee. The award recognizes excellence in research on microalgae over a two-year period (2005-2006). The committee recognizes the breadth of your many important contributions toward understanding harmful dinoflagellates, including the environmental factors affecting these algae, their effects on other organisms, and interspecific differences among the algae.

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 recipient of the Award is selected from candidates nominated by their major professors. Nominees may be from any country and the Award is made strictly on the basis of merit - the recipient's general scholarly promise and significance of the research proposed. The Award Committee includes representatives from the Hunt Institute, The Hunt Foundation, the Lawrence family, and the botanical community.

The Lawrence Memorial Award for 2007 goes to Mr. Jimmy K. Triplett, a student of Dr. Lynn G. Clark at Iowa State University. For his dissertation research, Mr. Triplett has undertaken study of woody bamboo genus Pleioblastus. The proceeds of the Award will help support his travel to Japan for field work and herbarium research.

SPECIAL AWARD
Dr. Christopher Haufler, BSA Past President

The Botanical Society of America presented a special award to Dr. Haufler expressing gratitude and appreciation for outstanding contributions and support for the Society. Chris has provided exemplary contributions to the Society in terms of leadership, time and effort.

SPECIAL AWARD
Dr. Kent Holsinger, out-going BSA Treasurer, University of Connecticut

The Botanical Society of America presented a special award to Dr. Holsinger expressing gratitude and appreciation for outstanding contributions and support for the Society.

SPECIAL AWARD
Dr. Pamela Diggle, BSA out-going Council Representative, University of Colorado

The Botanical Society of America presented a special award to Dr. Diggle expressing gratitude and appreciation for outstanding contributions and support for the Society.

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.

Madelaine Bartlett, University of California, Berkeley

Julia Nowak, University of Guelph

Patricia Ryberg, University of Kansas

John Snider, University of Central Arkansas

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.

C. Matt Guilliams, San Diego State University - First Place - $500 Botany 2007 Student Travel Award

Jessica Budke, University of Connecticut - Second Place - $250 Botany 2007 Student Travel Award

Nicole M. Hughes, Wake Forest University - Third Place - $100 Botany 2007 Student Travel Award

Isabel Cookson Award (Paleobotanical Section)

Established in 1976, the Isabel Cookson Award recognizes the best student paper presented in the Paleobotanical Section

Heather Sanders of Ohio University, is the 2007 award recipient for the paper entitled "Upside down auxin suggests the evolutionary origin of isoetalean rhizomorphs" Her co-authors were Gar W. Rothwell and Sarah Wyatt

George R. Cooley Award (Systematics Section and the American Society of Plant Taxonomists)

George R. Cooley award for best contributed paper in plant systematics. The ASPT's Cooley Award is given for the best paper in systematics given at the annual meeting by a botanist in the early stages of his/her career. Awards are made to members of ASPT who are graduate students or within 5 years of their post-doctoral careers. The Cooley Award is given for work judged to be substantially complete, synthetic and original. First authorship required; graduate students or those within 5 years of finishing their Ph.D. are eligible; must be a member of ASPT at time of abstract submission; only one paper judged per candidate.

This year's award was given to Ann Willyard of University of South Dakota for her talk entitled “Integrating phylogenetic and population genetic approaches: A case study using Pinus washoensis". Co-authors were Aaron Liston and RC Cronn

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 Mackenzie Taylor, from University of Tennessee, for her paper “Fertilization timing and the pollen tube pathway in Cabombaceae (Nymphaeales)..” Her co-author was Joseph H. Williams

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 Keith Adams, University of British Columbia, for the paper “Subfunctionalization of genes duplicated by polyploidy in response to environmental stress." Co-author was Zhenlan Liu.

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.

Samuel F. Brockington, from the University of Florida, is the 2007 Moseley Award recipient, for his paper “Differing patterns of MADS-box gene expression associated with shifts in petaloidy within Aizoaceae (Caryophyllales)” Co-authors were Mike Frohlich, Paula J. Rudall, Douglas E. Soltis and Pamela S. Soltis.

Emanuel D. Rudolph Award (Historical Section)

The Emanuel D. Rudolph Award is given by the Historical Section of the BSA for the best student presentation/poster of a historical nature at the annual meetings.

This award was established in 2007 to highlight excellence in the area of historical presentations at the Botanical Society of America meetings. It is given to the student or students presenting historical papers in any section or symposium. The first award goes to Witt Taylor of Arizona State University and S. Y. Smith of the Royal Holloway University of London for the arrangement of the "A Symposium in Honor of Sherwin Carlquist".

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 Renee A. Lopez-Smith, Southern Illinois University, for her paper; " Sperm cell architecture and the neck canal in diploid and tetraploid Ceratopteris cytotypes: does size matter?" Her co-author was Karen Renzaglia.

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 2007 award recipients are:

J. S. Karling Graduate Student Research Award

Pamela Steele, University of Texas at Austin - Advisor, Robert K. Jansen, Systematics and Biogeography of the Neotropical Genus Psiguria (Cucurbitaceae)

BSA Graduate Student Research Awards

Rob Baker, University of Colorado, Boulder, Advisor, Dr. Pamela Diggle, The Microevolution of Plant Architectural Development: Cloning and Sequencing Monkeyflower Branching Genes

Janelle Burke, Cornell University, Advisor, Melissa Luckow, The systematics of the Neotropical genus Antigonon (Polygonaceae) and its application to the study of invasiveness in Antigonon leptopus

Laura Burkle, Dartmouth College, Advisor, Dr. Rebecca E. Irwin, The Effects of Nitrogen on Plant-Pollinator Mutualisms

Natalie Feliciano, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Advisor, Jill S. Miller, Isolation of the Pollen SLF Self-Incompatibility Gene in Lycium

Tracy Misiewicz, Northwestern University, Advisor, Nyree Zerega, Investigating the Evolutionary History and Pollination Biology of the genus Dorstenia (Moraceae)

Gilberto Ocampo, Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden, Claremont CA, Advisor, J. Travis Columbus, Systematics of Portulaca L. (Portulacaceae), including its position within the higher Caryophyllales

Patricia Ryberg, University of Kansas, Advisor, Edith L. Taylor, Permineralized Glossopteris ovules and ovulate organs from the Permian of Antarctica and Australia

Valerie Soza, University of Washington, Advisor, Richard Olmstead, Molecular Systematics and Evolution of Breeding Systems in Galium (Rubiaceae)

Cheng-Chiang Wu, Harvard University, Dr. Elena M. Kramer, Gene Duplication and Functional Evolution of Floral Homeotic Genes in Eudicots

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 2007 award recipients are:

Kathryn J. Antony, Barnard College, Columbia University, New York, NY – Advisor, Hilary Callahan

Erica A. Fishel, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS – Advisor, Helen Alexander

George Hickman, Eastern Illinois University, Charleston, IL - Advisor, Janice M. Coons

Kelli Johnson, Ohio University, Athens, OH – Advisor, Gar W. Rothwell

Nathan Jud, Ohio University, Athens, OH – Advisor, Gar W. Rothwell

Elizabeth Kolar, Salisbury University, Salisbury, MD – Advisor, Kimberly Hunter

Katherine LaJeunesse, Miami University, Oxford, OH – Advisor, Martin H. Stevens

Jessica Lawrence, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, - Advisor, Guy N. Cameron

Elizabeth Levenda, Eastern Illinois University, Charleston, IL - Advisor, Nancy Coutant

Meredith Mertz, Truman State University, Kirksville, MO, Advisor, Jeffrey M. Osborn

Kyle Meyer, University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI – Advisor, Sara Hoot

T. Ryan O’Leary, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS – Advisor, Mark Mort

Sarah Owens, Miami University, Oxford, OH – Advisor, Richard C. Moore

Richard Tate, Humboldt State University, Arcata, CA – Advisor, Alexandru M.F. Tomescu

Emily R. Treadaway, James Madison University, Harrisonburg, VA - Advisor, Conley K. McMullen

Michael Shane Woolf, James Madison University, Harrisonburg, VA - Advisor, Conley K. McMullen

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.

Tatiana Arias, University of Tennessee

Natalia Pabon Mora, CUNY/New York Botanical Garden

Maria Aurineide Rodrigues, Universidade de Sao Paulo

Yannick Staedler, University of Zurich

Renate Wuersig, Purdue University

Developmental & Structural Section Best Student Poster Award

Q. Sun, University of California Davis for his paper “Cell wall composition and porosity of intervessel pit membranes in grape stems and possible mechanisms of systemic movement of Xylella fastidiosa, causal pathogen of Pierce’s disease of grape.”

Ecology Section Award, Best Student Presentation

Teresa M. Woods, from the Kansas State University, for the paper “Multiple reproductive modes contribute to fitness homeostasis of the invasive Lespedeza cuneata (Fabaceae)” Co-authors were David C. Hartnett and Carolyn J. Ferguson.

Ecology Section Award, Best Student Poster

Mauricio Diazgranados, of Saint Louis University for the poster “Testing the conservatism of the ecological niche of the Espeletia complex”

Ecology Section Student Travel Awards

Cassandra Boadway, Grand Valley State University, Advisor: Dr. Gary Greer for her Botany 2007 presentation entitled: "Growth and Nodulation in Trifolium repens and Glycine max in Response to Ailanthus altissima Extracts".

John Geiger, Florida International University, Advisor: Dr. Suzanne Koptur for his Botany 2007 presentation entitled: "Experimental seed and seedling performance of the endangered vine Ipomoea microdactyla Griseb. (Convolvulaceae).".

Daniel Hewins, Rider University, Advisor: Dr. Laura A. Hyatt for his Botany 2007 presentation entitled: "Jack of All Trades: Biological Invasion Facilitated By Use of Multiple forms of Nitrogen".

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 Richard Stokes , University of Cincinnati, for the poster “ A novel approach to study gene flow between color forms of the tetraploid species Erythronium americanum” Co-author for the poster was Theresa Culley.

Genetics Section Graduate Student Research Awards

The 2007 recipient of the Genetics Section Graduate Student Research Award, which provides $500 for research funds and an additional $500 for attendance at a future BSA meeting, is: Michael Anthony, Portland State University.

Historical Section Student Participation Award

Mycological Section Student Travel Awards

Sarah Carrino-Kyker, Case Western Reserve University, Advisor - Andrew Swanson for her Botany 2007 presentation entitled; "Little Wetlands in the Big City: Microbial Diversity of Vernal Pools in and around Cleveland, Ohio".

Phycological Section Student Travel Award

Chang Jae Choi, University of Wisconsin, Advisor: Dr. John A. Berges for the poster entitled; "Contrasting features of cell death in response to oxidative stress in marine and freshwater chlorophyte algae"

Physiological Section Student Prizes - Best Paper

Uromi Goodale, Yale University, for her talk “Use of Non-destructive landscape ecophysiology tools in Shi-Lanka."

Mohammed Abdul, Texas A&M, for his talk “Impact of high nighttime temperature on rice growth, development, and physiology."

Physiological Section Li-Cor Prize

Jason Kilgore, of Michigan State University, for his poster “Influence of cold tolerance on upper elevation range limits in isolated mountain islands Ponderosae" His co-author was Frank W. Telewski.

Phytochemical Section Student Travel Award

Cassie Majetic, University of Pittsburgh, for the poster “Geographic patterns of floral scent-floral color association in Hesperis matronalis (Brassicaceae) and their implications on female fitness” Her co-authors Robert A. Raguso and Tia-Lynn Ashman.

Pteridological Section Student Travel Awards

Ms. Melanie Link-Perez, Miami University, Advisor: Dr. R. James Hickey - for her Botany 2007 presentation entitled:
"Morphological Variation and Geographical Distribution of Adiantopsis radiata."

Mr. Carl Rothfels, Duke University, Advisor: Dr. Kathleen Pryer - for his Botany 2007 presentation entitled:
"Making Fronds in the Desert: Phylogenetics of Farinose Ferns (Notholaena: Pteridaceae)."

Ms. Alejandra Vasco, New York Botanical Garden, Advisor: Dr. Robbin C. Moran for her Botany 2007 poster entitled:
"Taxonomic Revision of the Elaphoglossum ciliatum group (Dryopteridaceae)."