September 2004 • Volume 38 • Number 9

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APS Awards and Honors Program Changes for 2005

James MacDonald, APS President

In the fall of 2003, an ad hoc Awards and Honors Issues Committee was appointed by Past-President Gary Bergstrom to review the APS Awards and Honors Program and make recommendations to improve the program. The committee was composed of Alan Collmer, Cornell University, Arv Grybauskas, University of Maryland, Jim MacDonald, University of California Davis, Randy Ploetz, University of Florida, Mary Powelson, Oregon State University, Marci Smith, APS staff, Allison Tally, Syngenta, and Mike Benson, North Carolina State University, chair.

At the annual meeting in Anaheim this year, APS Council approved the following changes in the Awards and Honors Program based on the ad hoc committee’s recommendations.

Change the date for receipt of nominations to November 1 of each year. This change was made to allow the Awards and Honors Committee adequate time to complete selection of award recipients.

Change to an electronic submission for nominations via PDF files sent directly to APS headquarters. Electronic submission of nominations will improve the nomination process and ease of submitting nominations, particularly for international nominators.

Allow Fellows to be eligible for awards of excellence. This change was made to provide consistency across the awards program. Fellows are now eligible to be nominated for the awards of excellence in an area of accomplishment different from that on which the Fellow nomination was based, provided that the new accomplishment has occurred after recognition as a Fellow. A period of five years should elapse between recognition as a Fellow and nomination for an award of excellence. The nominator of a Fellow for an award of excellence should specify how the contributions in the current nomination differ from those on which the Fellow nomination was based originally.

Allow APS members who receive non-Fellow awards to serve on the Awards and Honors Committee. This change was made to improve the diversity of committee membership.

Given the new nomination deadline for APS awards of November 1, 2004, I am pleased on behalf of the Awards and Honors Committee to make the Call for Nominations for the 2005 awards (see sidebar). Information on the APS Awards Program can also be found online at www.apsnet.org/members/awards.

 

Nominations for APS Awards Due Nov. 1

The call is now being made for APS and APS-sponsored award nominations for the 2005 APS Annual Meeting. Nominators are referred to the following guidelines.

Nominations for the Award of Distinction, Fellow, Ruth Allen, Noel T. Keen Award for Research in Molecular Plant Pathology, Excellence in Extension, Excellence in Industry, Excellence in Teaching, International Service, Lee M. Hutchins, Syngenta, and William Boright Hewitt and Maybelle Ellen Ball Hewitt Awards (visit www.apsnet.org/members/awards/list.asp
for a description of each award and a list of previous winners) should be postmarked on or before November 1, 2004, according to the following procedures.

Nominations should be made following the “General Instructions.” All nominations for the named awards are considered for three years, with the exception of the Lee M. Hutchins Award and the Hewitt Award, which stand for only one year. Multiple letters of support should not be provided for a candidate’s nomination. If a nomination is not successful in the first year, the nominator is encouraged to update the nomination. A gap of three years between the last year of consideration and renomination is recommended. The Awards and Honors Committee may decide not to make a named award in years without suitable nominations. Deceased members are not eligible for any APS award if they died before nomination.

Fellows are now eligible to be nominated for awards of excellence in an area of accomplishment different from that on which the Fellow award was based, provided that the new accomplishment has occurred after recognition as a Fellow. A period of five years should elapse between recognition as a Fellow and nomination for an award of excellence. The nominator of a Fellow for an award of excellence should specify how the contributions in the current nomination differ from those on which the previous Fellow nomination was based.

General Instructions
Each member of the society may nominate one candidate a year for each of the awards. The nomination should include the following supporting material:

A nomination statement not to exceed 1,000 words that highlights the contributions of the candidate and includes the candidate’s name, place of birth, and institutions, with degrees and year granted, as well as current position. The statement should be focused, succinct, and document the relevancy and impact of the candidate’s contributions to the advancement of science and plant pathology. See examples of citations for previous award recipients available online at www.apsnet.org/members/awards.

A 250 word abstract of the nomination statement to be read at the Awards Ceremony.

A curriculum vitae, not to exceed two pages.

A complete list of publications. The list should be separated into the following
categories:

• Refereed journal articles
• Extension publications
• Books, reviews, and book chapters
• Technical publications (e.g., monographs, reports, symposium papers,
proceedings, etc.)
• Popular publications
• Invited presentations

A cover letter with the candidate’s name and the award for which the nomination is made. The letter (not to exceed one page) may provide additional insight into the significance of the contributions that is not given in the nomination statement.

Submission of Nominations
Nominations should be submitted as portable document files (PDF file) with the PDF file named as:

• (Insert nominee name)_statement.pdf,
(example: TWSmith_statement.pdf)
• (Insert nominee name)_abst.pdf
• (Insert nominee name)_cv.pdf
• (Insert nominee name)_pubs.pdf
• (Insert nominee name)_cover.pdf

If you do not currently have the software to create PDF files, you can find information and directions on how to convert your file for free at http://wheel.compose.cs.cmu.edu: 8001/cgi-bin/browse/objweb. The nomination packet should be e-mailed to APS Staff Coordinator Linda Schmitt (lschmitt@scisoc.org) by November 1, 2004. Please include “APS award nomination” in the subject line of the e-mail. The nomination will be acknowledged by reply e-mail within 5 to 7 days. If acknowledgement is not received, please call Linda Schmitt at +1.651.994.3828.

Closing Date
Nominations are due by November 1, 2004.

Committee Members
Do not e-mail nominations directly to committee members. Nominations must be received at APS Headquarters for forwarding to committee members.

2004–2005 Awards and Honors Committee

Tim R. Gottwald, Chair
USDA ARS
Ft. Pierce, FL

Linda S. Thomashow, Vice Chair
Washington State University/USDA ARS
Pullman, WA

Mary Powelson, Immediate Past Chair
Green Valley, AZ

Said A. Ghabrial
University of Kentucky
Lexington, KY

Margaret E. Daub
North Carolina State University
Raleigh, NC

Martin B. Dickman
University of Nebraska
Lincoln, NE

Carol E. Windels
University of Minnesota
Crookston, MN

Revised Award Statements

Award of Distinction
This award, the highest honor the society can bestow, is presented on rare occasions to persons who have made truly exceptional contributions to plant pathology. Nominations for this award may be submitted by any member of the society. Nominees for the Award of Distinction need not be members of the society.

Fellow
The society grants this honor to a current APS member in recognition of distinguished contributions to plant pathology or to The American Phytopathological Society. Anyone who has been a member of the society for at least three years immediately before nomination, except for retired persons who were members for the last three years before retirement, is eligible.

Fellow recognition is based on significant contributions in one or more of the following areas: original research, teaching, administration, professional and public service, and/or extension and outreach. It is important to clearly indicate in the nomination statement which of these major categories serve(s) as the basis for the nomination. Recipients of this honor receive a certificate and recognition granted to only a few society members.

Ruth Allen Award
This award honors individuals who have made an outstanding, innovative research contribution that has changed, or has the potential to change, the direction of research in any field of plant pathology. Nominees for this award need not be members of the society. Recipients of the Ruth Allen Award receive a certificate and a cash prize derived from a fund established by the heirs of Dr. Allen.

Noel T. Keen Award for Research in Molecular Plant Pathology
This award recognizes APS members for research excellence in molecular plant pathology. Nominees will have made outstanding contributions and demonstrated sustained excellence and leadership in research that significantly advances the understanding of molecular aspects of host–pathogen interactions, plant pathogens or plant-associated microbes, or molecular biology of disease development or defense mechanisms. Recipients of the Noel T. Keen Award receive a certificate and a cash prize derived from a fund established through the APS Foundation.

Distinguished Service Award
This award honors APS members who have provided sustained, outstanding leadership to the society, while also furthering the science of plant pathology. This award is only presented upon the recommendation of APS Council.

Excellence in Extension Award
This award recognizes an APS member for excellence in extension plant pathology. Nominees will be individuals who have made outstanding contributions by creating, developing, or implementing extension-related programs or materials or who have provided significant leadership in an area of extension plant pathology. Supporting information could include descriptions of significant clientele educational programs; development of information transfer materials, such as bulletins, fact sheets, books, newspaper and magazine articles, computer software and networks, video tapes, radio and television programs, and interactive video conferences; and evidence of leadership in local, regional, or national extension programs or professional organizations. Specific examples of the creativity and impact of the nominee’s programs should be emphasized. Note on research, teaching, public policy education, and other activities supportive of extension should be included in the nomination. Recipients receive a certificate.

Excellence in Industry Award
This award recognizes outstanding contributions to plant pathology by APS members whose primary employment involves work outside the university and federal realms either for profit or nonprofit. Individuals eligible for the award include plant pathology research and development specialists, private consultants, group managers, and others. Supporting information could include general descriptions of new discoveries that have advanced the technological development of plant pathology, publications, patents, novel information delivery programs for clientele, unique clean-stock programs for industry, effective coordination of development programs for new chemicals and biocontrol agents, and demonstrated leadership of a nonprofit organization with a focus toward plant pathology. Nominees must be an APS member employed primarily in nonacademic or nongovernment service. Recipients receive a certificate.

Excellence in Teaching Award
This award recognizes an APS member for excellence in teaching plant pathology. Preference will be given to active teachers with responsibility for one or more courses in plant pathology. The major criterion will be formal (classroom) teaching proficiency, as indicated by the development and effectiveness of courses taught. Note on research and other activities supportive of teaching should be included in the nomination materials. Other supporting material should include a brief description of courses taught and indicators, including students’ opinions, of teaching effectiveness. Recipients receive a certificate and a cash prize made possible by the Lucy Hastings de Gutiérrez Fund established in the APS Foundation by Lucy’s family and friends.

International Service Award
This award recognizes outstanding contributions to plant pathology by APS members for countries other than their own. Contributions may have been made through collaborative projects, sabbaticals, short- and long-term assignments with educational or governmental agencies, including, but not limited to, international centers and research institutes. Nominees should be individuals who have made outstanding contributions to plant pathology for a country beyond their home country. Supporting information could include descriptions of plant pathology programs that have been established, collaborative efforts with scientists in the host country, publications resulting from work done in the host country, and effective coordination of educational programs for universities or government agencies. This award carries with it a cash prize, a portion of which is to be designated to the international program of the recipient’s choice. Funds for this prize are made possible from the JANE Fund (John and Ann Niederhauser Endowment).

Lee M. Hutchins Award
This is an award to the author or authors of published research on basic or applied aspects of diseases of perennial fruit plants (tree fruits, tree nuts, small fruits, and grapes, including tropical fruits, but excluding vegetables). A nomination must be based principally or completely on a paper or series of papers published in APS journals within 10 calendar years preceding the annual meeting. Earlier papers in APS journals should be cited in the nomination only if they were the foundation of subsequent work during the 10-year period or if the work during the 10-year period involved a logical extension and application of earlier research. The nominated paper(s) may report research on any aspect of disease diagnosis, epidemiology, etiology, physiology, vector relations, control, or properties of the etiologic agent. The committee would be influenced by the significance of the research reported, how it provides a better understanding of fruit plant diseases, and how it contributes ultimate value to the fruit industry. Nominations for the Lee M. Hutchins Award will stand for only one year. Nominees need not be members of the society. The award consists of a certificate and a cash prize from the Lee M. Hutchins Fund bequeathed to the society by Dr. Hutchins.

Syngenta Award
This award is given by Syngenta Crop Protection to an APS member for an outstanding recent contribution to teaching, research, or extension in plant pathology. Priority for this award is given to members of APS who are in the first decade of a career in plant pathology. The award consists of a certificate and an expense-paid trip to Basel, Switzerland.

William Boright Hewitt and Maybelle Ellen Ball Hewitt Award
This award recognizes a scientist within five years of their Ph.D. degree who has made an outstanding, innovative contribution directed toward the control of plant disease. To be considered, the nominee must have received a Ph.D. degree, or completed postdoctoral training, no more than five years prior to nomination and be an APS member. Contributions that include research or activities performed for a graduate degree will not be considered. Supporting information should include a detailed description of innovative research or extension programs. Nominations will stand for only one year. Recipients will receive a certificate and a cash prize derived form funds bequeathed to the society by the Hewitt estate.

APS-Sponsored Nominations
In addition to awards given by APS, the committee solicits nominations of individuals to be sponsored by APS for awards given by other agencies. For such awards, the committee recommends nominees to the APS Council. When nominees are approved by the council, the committee appoints a nominator who prepares the required documentation, and the nominations are forwarded to the appropriate agency by the president of APS. These awards are as follows:

National Medal of Science—This medal is awarded annually by the president of the United States for outstanding contributions to knowledge in the biological, physical, mathematical, or engineering sciences. More than one individual may be nominated in a given year. All nominees are considered for a period of five years.

Alexander von Humboldt Award—This annual award includes a cash prize of $10,000 for the most significant contribution to American agriculture made or recognized during the previous three years. Recipients are selected by a national committee. APS may sponsor more than one nominee.

Alan T. Waterman Award—Each year, the National Science Foundation recognizes the work of an outstanding research scientist (generally under age 40) in any field of science or engineering by awarding a medal and research grant, not to exceed $50,000 per year, for three years of scientific research or advanced study.
 

 
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