Dr. Joseph McConnell – NSHE Researcher of the Year Award

Dr. Joseph McConnell was presented with the prestigious Nevada System of Higher Education Regents’ Researcher of the Year Award for 2006 in recognition of his landmark work in ice-core chemistry, snow hydrology, paleoclimatology and glaciology. The award is granted to faculty members with a substantial record of national and international accomplishments including a significant amount of research and scholarly work with recognition. The honoree receives a $5,000 stipend and a medal.

Dr. Alison Murray – Peter B. Wagner Medal of Excellence

Dr. Alison Murray was honored with the 2006 Peter B. Wagner Medal of Excellence, an award for outstanding scientific accomplishments by DRI faculty in the early stages of their careers. Murray received a $1,500 prize and a minted medal for the award, named in honor of DRI atmospheric scientist Peter Wagner who died in the crash of a research aircraft in 1980. Murray’s research involves the use of biotechnology and genomics to study microorganisms and how they interact with the environment. Peter B. Wagner’s widow, Sue Wagner, a Nevada Gaming Commission member and former Nevada Lieutenant Governor, established the award in 1998.

President Wells Receives High Honor from Indiana University

DRI President Stephen Wells was honored by his alma mater, Indiana University, with the Richard Owen Alumni Award—the highest honor that the Department of Geological Sciences bestows on an alumnus. The annual award is for outstanding achievement in the field of geological sciences, be it excellence as a researcher, teacher, explorer or manager and be it in the academic, industrial or government sectors or as an independent entrepreneur. The award honors a graduate who has made the department proud at the highest level.

Wells’ distinguished educational and professional career began at Indiana University where he received a B.S. in geology in 1971. He went on to receive an M.S. and Ph.D. in geology from the University of Cincinnati. He was a professor in the University of New Mexico’s department of geology from 1976 to 1991 and a professor of geomorphology at the University of California-Riverside until 1995, when he came to DRI as the executive director of the Quaternary Sciences Center as well as a research professor and graduate faculty member at the University of Nevada, Reno. Wells has served as president of DRI since 1999.

Adding to a lengthy list of his many professional awards and activities, Wells began serving a one-year term as president of The Geological Society of America (GSA) in June 2006. GSA is a broad unifying scientific society that fosters the human quest for understanding Earth, plants and life. A member for almost 35 years, Wells’ service to GSA has included chairing several committees, co-convening a GSA conference and serving on the editorial board of various GSA publications. GSA has more than 16,000 members in more than 85 countries.

The Owen Award is named in honor of Richard Owen, who taught courses in geology, natural history, botany and geography at Indiana University from 1864 to 1879. He was the first IU professor to publish papers concerning geology. The Owen Award was established in 1985 in celebration of the 100-year anniversary of the founding of IU’s department of geological sciences.

Lewis’ Achievements an Example of Precious Commodity
in Adjunct Research Professors

To quote a famous Frank Sinatra song, 2006 “was a very good year” for Adjunct Research Professor Dr. John Lewis. In February, Lewis was awarded Fellow of the American Meteorological Society for his sustained contributions to numerical weather prediction and historical studies of meteorology. This was an apt award, indeed, since Lewis’ 40-year career in meteorology includes being an operational meteorologist for the U. S. Navy and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), a university professor and a researcher in private and government laboratories. Currently on long-term assignment to DRI, he serves as a research meteorologist at the NOAA National Severe Storms Laboratory.

In August 2006, Cambridge University Press published his book (with co-authors S. Lakshmivarahan and Sudarshan Dhall) on dynamic data assimilation—a comprehensive treatise on the mathematical methods used to prepare weather observations for use in forecasting. The book,  “Dynamic Data Assimilation: A Least Squares Approach,” has already received acclaim from meteorologists at operational prediction centers worldwide and from academicians.

Lewis has been a DRI adjunct professor since 1998. Adjuncts are typically highly experienced scientists who have a record of collaboration with DRI faculty members, but are employed elsewhere. Bestowing the title of “adjunct” is a visible way of recognizing this relationship and encouraging even closer collaborations. Both sides benefit from such an arrangement by direct scientific interactions with the individuals involved, as well as by granting exposure to a broader range of colleagues and expertise at partnering institutions. If the adjunct professor comes from a traditional university setting, this often leads to subsequent student exchange opportunities.

Dr. Lewis’ adjunct experience has been somewhat unusual in that he has been physically located at DRI since 1998. “This has worked very well,” says Dr. S. Kent Hoekman, Executive Director of the Division of Atmospheric Sciences (DAS). “Because John has been physically embedded within DAS, he has frequently partnered with regular faculty members in writing proposals, conducting research projects and publishing scientific papers. He has also taught classes within the Atmospheric Sciences Graduate Program, has served on students’ thesis committees and has mentored students and junior faculty members alike. In fact, he is so fully incorporated into DAS activities that most people at DRI don’t realize he is actually employed by NOAA.”

Lewis received his undergraduate education at Sacramento State College and was then awarded a fellowship from the Ford Foundation to complete his M.S. at the University of Chicago and a fellowship from NASA to complete his Ph.D. at the University of Oklahoma. He resides with his wife and youngest daughter in Truckee, Calif., where he studies Sierra snowstorms firsthand. Copies of Lewis’ book can be obtained from Amazon or Cambridge’s U.S. office in New York City.

Professor Martin Ehrendorfer, University of Vienna:

“I find a lot of detail that the readers will appreciate, and I like the way the book is structured—from ‘simple’ estimation methods to the Kalman Filter and variational methods.”

Professor Tomi Vukicevic, University of Colorado:

“This book on data assimilation covers essentially all that we know about state estimation for dynamically evolving systems—a grand effort on a much-needed textbook.”

Dr. Andrew Lorenc, Head, Data Assimilation Section, British Meteorological Office:

“I think the book will be very useful, giving derivations of key results at a level that my staff will find appropriate.”

Dr. James Purser, National Meteorological Center/Environmental Modeling Center:

“It was enjoyable to see so many ideas so nicely set out—a treasure and wonderful resource for students.”