Notables

Alan G. Taylor, professor of horticultural sciences at the New York State Agricultural Experiment Station in Geneva, N.Y., has won the 2003 Seed Science award for distinctive service in the development and use of quality seeds in agriculture. The award will be presented by the Crops Science Society of America at the National Agronomy meetings in Denver in November. Principle criteria for the award are significance and originality of research, contributions to extension and service activities, educational activities relating to training seed scientists, international contributions, and professional interactions with seed related organizations. Taylor will receive a plaque and a $1,000 honorarium donated by Pioneer Hi-Bred, the company that sponsors the award. In cooperation with vegetable extension specialists and others with responsibilities to the New York vegetable industry, Taylor, whose work can best be described as "modern seed technology," has worked on a range of topics for multiple stakeholders. His research ranges from the applied aspects of seed technology to more fundamental aspects of seed biology.

Oliver Habicht, Cornell University Library director of desktop services, was elected co-chair of the Cornell Computing Directors (CCD) at the Sept. 10 CCD meeting and began his two-year term Oct. 1. He joins Sunny Donenfeld, director of information systems and services for Campus Life, whose term as co-chair ends next year. The Cornell Computing Directors, a group of information technology (IT) managers representing colleges, research units and administrative departments at Cornell, meets monthly to share knowledge and discuss IT issues. The CCD group provides leadership to the university community on information technology issues through advice, education and advocacy. For more information on CCD, visit http://www.ccd.cornell.edu.

Emeritus Professor Lawrence Hamilton was recently honored with the Fred M. Packard International Parks Merit Award during the World Parks Congress in Durban, South Africa. This is the highest award given by the World Commission on Protected Areas of the World Conservation Union/IUCN. It is given in recognition of outstanding service in furthering the conservation objectives of protected areas to society. The award plaque reads, in part: "Dr. Lawrence S. Hamilton has given exceptional service to conservation of protected areas throughout the world, in particular to mountains and their environments." Hamilton served at Cornell from 1951 until 1980. He lives in Charlotte, Vt., and serves as tree warden for the town of Charlotte and a trustee board member of the Vermont Nature Conservancy.