Notables

Karl J. Niklas, the Liberty Hyde Bailey Professor of Plant Biology, has received the 2002 Jeanette Siron Pelton Award for his research contributions to plant biology and evolution. The Pelton Award is conferred at irregular intervals by the Botanical Society of America and the Conservation and Research Foundation at Connecticut College, New London, Conn., to junior investigators exhibiting exceptional promise or to senior investigators for sustained excellence in the field of plant morphogenesis. Niklas is a past recipient of Botanical Society of America's lifetime achievement award, among other significant honors. He has been a Cornell faculty member since 1978 and currently is editor in chief of the American Journal of Botany.

Richard A. Durst, professor of chemistry and chair of the Department of Food Science and Technology at the university's New York State Agricultural Experiment Station in Geneva, N.Y., has been named a fellow of the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry. He was recognized for his effort in organizing international standards. In 2001 Durst completed 32 years of service to IUPAC having served as a member of its Electrochemistry Commission (1970-1977), the Electroanalytical Chemistry Commission (1978-1991) and the Division Committee for Analytical Chemistry (1992-2001). Before coming to Cornell in 1990, Durst served as a research chemist, group leader, section chief, and deputy director in the Center for Analytical Chemistry at the National Institute of Standards and Technology, formerly the National Bureau of Standards. His current research interests include the development of biosensing devices for field screening.

H. Dean Sutphin, associate dean and director of academic programs in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, has been appointed to the board of U.S. Department of Agriculture's Graduate School. The USDA's Graduate School, which does not grant degrees, is a continuing education institution that offers career-related courses to anyone, but primarily to federal, state and local government employees. Programs include day courses on information technology; distance learning through the school's National Independent Study Center; correspondence programs; and evening and weekend online courses. Students also can receive long-term career development through the school's Leadership Development Academy and certificates of accomplishment for many career-related fields. In addition to his administrative responsibilities in Cornell's agriculture college, Sutphin teaches the distance learning course ALS 480, Global Sustainability: Environment and Food Systems.