USU professors win science medal
Algae and award galas are not two terms usually associated with one another. However, two USU professors were honored with Governor’s Science and Technology Medals in part for their work with algal biofuels at a gala in Salt Lake City on Jan. 10.
“We are both deeply honored to receive this award,” said Bruce Bugbee, professor in USU’s plants, soils, and climate department and one of the medal recipients. “We hope it elevates the status of USU in the state and helps us attract the most talented students from around the nation.”
Bugbee and Professor Byard Wood, head of the mechanical and aerospace engineering department, were awarded partly in recognition of their efforts to develop biofuels from algae. Algae can produce oil much faster than soybeans or canola. These algal oils can then be converted into biodiesel fuel, Wood said.
In addition to their work with biofuels, Bugbee and Wood were selected for their commitment to bettering their communities and students, state science adviser Tami Goetz said. Since becoming the head of the mechanical and aerospace engineering department, Wood has helped double the number of female undergraduates in the program.
Under his administration, Wood said the number of undergraduates in the program has increased by one third — from 432 students to more than 600. Goetz said the council also looked at the achievements of Wood’s students.
The governor’s awards were given specifically to Wood and Bugbee, but a research team comprised of members from various USU departments have been working on the algal biofuel project since 2006, Wood said.
“The opportunity to participate with my colleagues from all across campus has been a most satisfying and rewarding period of my 42-year career,” Wood said. “To witness the full integration of discipline and talent amongst our students has been very exciting.”
While no monetary award accompanies the medals, these medals “are prestigious and express peer recognition of accomplishment,” Goetz said.
She said the high achievements of Wood’s current and former students reflect his expertise as an instructor.
Bugbee’s achievements include having mentored 32 graduate students and his work with NASA resulted in more than $2.5 million in research funding for USU, according to a USU press release. Goetz said Bugbee’s most notable achievement is his “ability to translate university experience into job creation.”
Bugbee owns Apogee Instruments, a local company that develops sensors for a variety of uses. The company has a history of employing USU graduates.
The State Advisory Council on Science and Technology chose the 2011 award recipients based on several criteria, such as years of service, uniqueness of achievement and community impact, Goetz said. The council, composed of experts in educational, governmental and private sectors, has awarded medals to 11 scientists from these three sectors, she said.
Wood and Bugbee were selected for recognition in the academia category from among 42 candidates in the various categories. The other categories included industry, government, education and a special recognition award. The only other Utah university to be represented at the event was the University of Utah, which also had two professors win medals.
According to the Utah’s Governor’s Office of Economic Development website, the University of Utah and USU were the only universities to have faculty awarded for the 2009 and 2010 awards. In 2010, one faculty member from each institution was awarded. In 2009 the only two faculty members to be awarded both came from USU.
“USU and the U of U typically dominate,” Goetz said. “But I am working very hard to increase awareness of the awards at other institutions.”
For the past 24 years, candidates for the medals have been peer nominated and winners are announced every January.
– rouchellebrockman@gmail.com