Botanical Society of America Awards 2006

We are pleased to announce the recipients of the 2006 awards as to be presented at the Botanical Society of America Banquet held at the Botany 2006 Conference in Chico, Calofornia. Recognition of and support for the outstanding efforts and contributions to the science of botany are an important part of the role the participating societies play. We thank you for your support of these programs. The awards given this year include:

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. Ruth Stockey, University of Alberta

Dr. Ruth Stockey is recognized for her contributions to paleobotany, especially to our understanding of the anatomy and development of fossil conifers and angiosperms. Dr. Stockey has been a member of the Botanical Society of America for more than 30 years. She began her research career elucidating the structure and development of fossil conifers and is recognized as the world's expert in this area. Since moving to the University of Alberta, she has concentrated on anatomically preserved fossil angiosperms, providing data on floral structure, development, and phylogeny in these ancient plants. Her research has been supported by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) of Canada for more than 26 years. Dr. Stockey is truly an "ambassador of botany" and is involved in collaborative work with colleagues around the world; her letters of support came from five countries! She is an enthusiastic teacher and her support and training of students is exceptional--one student began research in her laboratory in high school, and received her Ph.D. this year. For her many contributions to paleobotany, including her dedication to training the next generation of botanists, the BSA is proud to recognize Dr. Ruth A. Stockey with its highest award.

Dr. Barbara Webster , University of California, Davis

Dr. Barbara Webster is recognized for her many contributions to plant development and structure. Her early work focused on abscission and senescence in higher plants, and included anatomy, ultrastructure, histochemistry, and physiology, as well as experimental work, especially on the genus Phaseolus. Beginning in the 1970s, Dr. Webster began to concentrate more on reproductive biology, but she has contributed to a wide range of topics, including nitrogen fixation in the legumes, environmental stress, and yield of crop plants. Her impressive publishing career spans more than five decades and includes more than 100 published papers and book chapters; her research has been supported by the National Science Foundation, the USDA and USAID. Dr. Webster was truly a pioneer in advocating for increased participation of women and minorities in science, and has served as a role model and mentor to both undergraduate and graduate students in plant biology. She is a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science and the American Society for Horticultural Science, served as Treasurer and President of the Botanical Society of America, and has served as Associate Vice-Chancellor for Research at the University of California, Davis since 1989. As one letter writer noted, "It is hard to believe that Barbara has not already received this award." For her numerous contributions in many arenas to the field of botany, the BSA is proud to recognize Dr. Barbara D. Webster with its highest award.

Jeanette Siron Pelton Award

The Jeanette Siron Pelton Award is given for sustained and imaginative productivity in the field of experimental plant morphology.

Dr. Tobias Baskin, University of Massachusetts, Amherst is the 2006 awardee. Dr. Baskin is recognized for his research into how plants control their shape via cellulose microfibrils and the microtubule cytoskeleton. He has made fundamental contributions to our understanding of how local cortical microtubule organization is related to microfibril orientation, which constrains cell and, ultimately, organ growth in longitudinal and radial directions. He has combined physiological, cytological, ultrastructural and genetic approaches to his studies of cell growth, and is credited with important innovations of microscopic techniques. Dr. Baskin is currently investigating the interaction of specific proteins with cortical microtubules, the plasmamembrane, and the cellulose synthase complexes in the membrane, to critically evaluate his proposed model of cell wall control of its own microfibril orientation. This award is from the Conservation and Research Foundation, based on the nomination by the BSA Pelton Award Committee, and includes a check and a certificate. This award also includes a Jeanette Siron Pelton Award Address,which will be given at the Botany 2007 conference in Chicago, Illinois.

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. Charles Delwiche, University of Maryland at College Park is the 2006 awardee. The award recognizes his excellent research on a wide variety of algae, resulting in significant contributions to the literature in many fields. These include molecular systematics and genetics of green algae and dinoflagellates, genomics of microalgae, molecular evolution of microalgae, and structure and function of microalgae.

The Henry Allan Gleason Award

Each year The New York Botanical Garden presents the Henry Allan Gleason Award for an outstanding publication in the field of plant taxonomy, plant ecology, or plant geography.

Dr. Michael G. Simpson is the Gleason Award recipient for 2006 for his book, Plant Systematics, published by Elsevier Academic Press. This publication, many years in the making, represents a masterly treatment of vascular plant groups and the principles of plant systematics as well as incorporating the latest concepts in phulogenetics and methodologies. It is erudite and most importantly - user friendly, especially students. This text will serve as the standard for many years to come.

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 Lawrence Memorial Award for 2006 goes to Eric Schuettplez, a student of Dr. Kathleen M. Pryer at Duke University. For his dissertation research, Mr. Schuettpelzhas undertaken a study of understanding the origin of diversification of fern epiphytes.. The proceeds of the Award will help support her travel to Southeast Asia, for field research.

SPECIAL AWARD
Dr. Edward Schneider , BSA Past President

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

SPECIAL AWARD
Dr. David Spooner, BSA Immediate Past Secretary, University of Wisconsin

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

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

Dr. W. Hardy Eshbaugh, Miami University, Oxford, Ohio, Professor Emeritus, Department of Botany. The nomination letters indicate that Hardy has advanced and broadened botany education for several generations of Miami University students. He pioneered the development of field courses ranging from introductory level formal courses to public outreach for retirees. We thank him for his 33 years of formal teaching and his continuing efforts to bring additional understanding of the natural world to the public at large.

Dr. David W. Lee, Florida International University, Miami, Florida. Peer nominators wish to recognize life-long effort and creativity demonstrated by Dr. Lee teaching of botany and advocacy for botanical education. His unique career path began in 1970. It has included extensive research and teaching in the tropics, as well as academic positions in the United States. We thank him for sharing his love of botany and his desire to communicate about plants to students and the public in uniquely effective methods.

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.

Tania Hernandez-Hernandez, Instituto de Biologia, UNAM, Supervisor - Susana Magallon Puebla

Purbasha Sarkar, Miami University, Oxford, OH, Supervisor - Dr. Daniel Gladish

Richard Tate, Humboldt State University, Supervisor - Dr. Alexandru MF Tomescu

Ramona Walls, Stony Brook University, Supervisor - Dr.R. Geeta

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.

Jay F. Bolin, Old Dominion University - Frist Place, Submission #5 - $500 Botany 2006 Student Travel Award

Anna Jacobsen, Michigan State University - Second Place, Submission #1 - $250 Botany 2006 Student Travel Award

Ryan McMillen, Southern Illinois University - Third Place, Submission #14 - $100 Botany 2006 Student Travel Award

Michael Cichan Award (Paleobotanical Section)

This award was named in honor of the memory and work of Michael A Cichan, who died in a plane crash in August of 1987. The Award was established to encourage work by young researchers at the interface of structural and evolutionary botany. This award is given to a young scholar for a paper published during the previous year in the fields of evolutionary and/or structural botany. No award given in 2006.

Isabel Cookson Award (Paleobotanical Section)

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

Selena Y Smith of the University of Alberta, is the 2006 award recipient for the paper entitled “Fossil perianthless Piperales: a saururaceous inflorescence and flowers with in situ pollen from the Princeton Chert.” Co-author was Ruth Stockey .

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 Brigitte Marazzi, from University of Zurich, for her paper “Diversity and evolution of anthers in the buzz-pollinated genus Senna (Leguminosae, Cassiinae).” Co-authors were Elena Conti and Peter K. Endress

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 Katrina Dlugosch, University of California Santa Cruz, for the paper “Inbreeding depression, outbreeding depression, and evolution in founding populations of an invasive plant." Co-author was Ingrid M. Parker.

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.

Yannick Staedler, from Universität Zürich, is the 2006 Moseley Award recipient, for his paper “Floral architecture and phyllotaxis in Calycanthaceae (Laurales)” Co-authors were Peter H. Weston, Peter K. Endress.

Winfried and Renate Remy Award (Paleobotanical Section)

This award was established in 1997 in honor of the life and work of Winfried and Renate Remy. It is given for the best published paper in paleobotany or palynology during the previous year. No award given in 2006

A.J. Sharp Award (Bryological and Lichenological Section)

The A.J. Sharp Award is presented each year by the American Bryological and Lichenological Society and the Bryological and Lichenological Section for the best student presentation. The award, named in honor of the late Jack Sharp, encourages student research on bryophytes and lichens.

This year’s A.J. Sharp Award goes to Norm Wickett, University of Connecticut, for his paper "Towards a complete chloroplast genome sequence of the non-photosynthetic liverwort Cryptothallus mirabilis"

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 Eric Shuettpelz, Duke University, for his paper; " Toward a comprehensive phylogeny of extant ferns"

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 2006 award recipients are:

J. S. Karling Graduate Student Research Award

Joshua W. Clayton, University of Florida, Department of Botany, (Supervisor: Dr. Doug Soltis) - "Molecular Phylogeny and Biogeography of Simaroubaceae s.s. (Sapindales)"

BSA Graduate Student Research Awards

Monica Carlsen, University of Missouri – St. Louis, Department of Biology and Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis. (Supervisor: Dr. Peter Stevens) – “A Revision of the Sectional Classification in Anthurium (Araceae) Integrating Morphology and Molecular Phylogenetics”

Kate Hertweck, University of Missouri Columbia, Department of Biological Sciences (Supervisor: Dr. J. Chris Pires) – “Population dynamics of polyploidy: Phylogenetics, cytogenetics, and hybridization of Tradescantia”

Jamie H. Howard, Arizona State University, School of Life Sciences Graduate Program (Supervisor: Dr. Martin F. Wojciechowski) – “Symbiotic Specificity of Irlc (Fabaceae) and Rhizobia with Unsaturated Fatty Acid-type Nod Factors: An Evolutionary Perspective”

Gretchen M. Ionta, University of Florida, Department of Botany (Supervisor: Dr. Walter Judd) – “A phylogenetic analysis of Periplocoideae (Apocynaceae s.l.) and insights into the evolution of pollinia”

Aaron Jenks, University of California, Riverside, Department of Botany and Plant Sciences, (Supervisor: Dr. Seung-Chul Kim) – “Phylogeny and Biogeography of Salvia L. subgenus Calosphace (Benth.) Benth.”

Gabriel P. Johnson, Southern Illinois University, Department of Plant Biology (Supervisor: Dr. Karen S. Renzaglia) – “Developmental changes in the placental transfer cells of Ceratopteris richardii”
Suzanne Joneson, Duke University, Biology Department (Supervisor: Dr. François Lutzoni) – “Differential Gene Expression in Early Algal and Fungal Lichen Symbiosis”
Marcela Martínez Millán, Cornell University, L. H. Bailey Hortorium and Department of Plant Biology (Supervisor: Dr. William L. Crepet) – “A Revision of the Early Fossil Record of Astridae”

Cynthia Skema, Cornell University, L.H. Bailey Hortorium (Supervisor: Dr. Melissa Luckow) – “Systematics of Dombeya (Malvaceae s.1.)”

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 2006 award recipients are:

John C. Benedict, Arizona State University, Department of Biology, Advisor - Dr. Kathleen B. Pigg

Meagan Coneybeer, Denison University, Department of Biological Sciences, Advisor - Dr. Warren Hauk

Justin Cummings, Eastern Illinois University, Department of Biological Sciences, Advisor - Dr. Scott J. Meiners

Allison S. Doores, Truman State University, Division of Science, Advisor - Dr. Jeffery Osborn

Matthew Dumlao, University of California, Davis, Department of Plant Sciences, Advisor - Dr. Judy Jernstedt

Faiza Fakhar, Miami University, Botany Department, Advisor - Dr. Michael A. Vincent

Veder Garcia, University of Maryland, Department of Cell Biology and Molecular Genetics, College Park, Advisor - Dr. Todd Cooke

Scott Gevaert, Saint Louis University, Department of Biology, Advisor - Dr. Janet C. Barber

Keith Gilland, Miami University, Botany Department, Advisor - Dr. Carolyn Howes Keiffer

Vincent Hustad, Eastern Illinois University, Department of Biological Sciences, Advisor - Dr. Andrew S. Methven

Alana Oldham, Humboldt State University, Department of Biological Sciences, Advisor - Dr. Alexandru MF Tomescu

Elizabeth (Ely) Huerta Ortiz, University of California, Davis, Department of Plant Sciences, Advisor - Dr. Judy Jernstedt

Michael J. Patterson, James Madison University, Department of Biology, Advisor - Dr. Conley K. McMullen

Melissa Schwind, Miami University, Botany Department, Advisor - Dr. John Kiss

Andrew B. Schwendemann, Truman State University, Division of Science, Advisor - Dr. Jeffery Osborn

Dianne Velasco, University of California, Davis, Department of Plant Sciences, Advisor - Dr. Judy Jernstedt

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.

Lara, Strittmatter

Athena D. McKown

Cary Pirone

Theresa Meis Chormanski

Anna Jacobsen

MacKenzie Taylor

Theresa Meis Chormanski

Garbiel Johnson

Developmental & Structural Section Best Student Poster Award

Athena D. McKnown, University of Toronto for her paper “Key innovations in evolution of Kranz anatomy in Flaveria”

Ecology Section Award, Best Student Presentation

Cristina Aragón, of Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, for the paper “Relationship between physiological status and fitness-related traits in a semi-arid specialist, Helianthemum squamatum, in two contrasting scenarios”

Ecology Section Award, Best Student Poster

Jessica Rabenold, of University of Missouri-Columbia for the paper “Friend or foe: effects of ants on fitness of an alpine wildflower, Polemonium viscosum”

Ecology Section Student Travel Awards

Rebecca Anderson, Illinois State University, Advisor: Dr. Diane L. Byers for her Botany 2006 presentation entitled: "Selection and Adaptation in Heterogeneous Soil Nutrient Environments".

Marissa Jernegan, Eastern Illinois University, Advisor: Dr. Janice Coons for her Botany 2006 presentation entitled: "Seed Longevity of Lesquerella ludoviciana, an Endangered Species of the Illinois Sand Prairie".

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 Nyssa Temmel, University of British Columbia, for the poster “Identifying the genes involved in gender differentiation in Populus trichocarpa ”

Genetics Section Graduate Student Research Awards

The 2006 recipient of the Genetics Section Graduate Student Research Awards, each of which provides $500 for research funds and an additional $500 for attendance at a future BSA meeting, is: Jill Durante of Pennsylvania State University

Phycological Section Student Travel Award

Nestor Anzola, University of Southern Mississippi, Advisor: Dr. George F. Pessoney for his Botany 2006 presentation entitled; "Algae From the Pascagoula River Basin: Phytoplankton Responses to Water Chemistry Dynamic in Small Streams"

Physiological Section Student Prizes - Best Paper

Sarah Kimball, University of California Irvine for her talk “Physiological Differences Maintain Species in a Natural Plant Hybrid Zone.." Her co-authors was Diane R. Campbell.

Ken Moriuchi, Florida State University for his talk “Genetic differences in patterns of growth, development, and plastic response to environmental quality in a perennial plant.."

Physiological Section Li-Cor Prize

Erika Sudderth, for her talk “Physiological performance of C₃, C₄, and intermediate Flaveria species in the Tehuaca?Ln Valley of Mexico." Her co-author was Noel M. Holbrook.

Pteridological Section Student Travel Awards

Michael S. Barker, Indiana University, Advisor: Dr. Loren Rieseberg for his Botany 2006 presentation entitled: "Inferring paleopolyploidy in homosporous ferns using duplicate gene age distributions"

Joshua Der, Utah State University, Advisor: Dr. Paul Wolf for his Botany 2006 presentation entitled: "A global phylogeographic study of the chloroplast genome in bracken (Pteridium: Dennstaedtiaceae)"

Amanda Grusz, University of North Carolina - Wilmington, Advisor: Dr. Kathleen M. Pryer for her Botany 2006 presentation entitled: "Polyploids and reticulate voids: the Cheilanthes fenderli complex revisited"

Chad E. Husby, Florida International University, Advisor: Dr. Steven Oberbauer for his Botany 2006 presentation entitled: "Salinity tolerance ecophysiology of the giant horsetail, Equisetum giganteum, in the Atacoma Desert, Chile"

Annabelle Kleist, Carroll College, Advisor: Dr. Jennifer Geiger for her Botany 2006 presentation entitled: "Alternate pathways of fern dispersal to the Hawaiian Islands, Part 3: Cibotium"
Eric Shuettpelz, Duke University, Advisor: Dr. Kathleen M. Pryer for his Botany 2006 presentation entitled; " Toward a comprehensive phylogeny of extant ferns"

Southeastern Section Student Travel Award

Brent A. McMillan, Old Dominion University, Advisor: Dr. Lytton Musselman