Scientific society inducts 10 UW-Madison faculty as fellows

The American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) announced that 10 members of the University of Wisconsin–Madison faculty have been elected fellows of the organization.

Selection as a AAAS fellow is a high honor conferred by peers in recognition of distinguished efforts to advance science and its applications. AAAS is the world’s largest general scientific society. The tradition of naming AAAS fellows in honor of their achievements dates to 1874.

Here are those elected from UW–Madison:

• Caitilyn Allen, professor of plant pathology, was cited for distinguished contributions to the field of plant-microbe interactions, particularly the biology of bacteria that cause plant disease, and for work to increase representation of women in science.
• Deborah L. Blum, professor of journalism and mass communication, was named for distinguished contributions to the public understanding of science through high-quality investigative journalism, award-winning books and leadership in the science journalism community.
• Judith N. Burstyn, a professor of chemistry, was honored for distinguished contributions to bioinorganic chemistry, particularly for explaining the role of heme proteins in the biology of diatomic gases nitric oxide and carbon monoxide.
• Michael Casler, a professor of agronomy and member of the Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center, was honored for distinguished contributions in agricultural sciences in teaching, research on perennial forages and bioenergy crop genetics, quality, fitness and adaptation, and for scientific services.
• Timothy Donohue, a professor of bacteriology and director of the Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center, was recognized for contributions to the field of bacteriology, especially for investigating metabolic and regulatory activities of photosynthetic bacteria critical to bioenergy formation.
• John E. Kutzbach, a professor emeritus at the Center for Climatic Research, was recognized for discoveries in the field of climate change, particularly for studies of how changes of the Earth’s orbit produce ice ages and monsoon variations.
• Seth Pollak, a professor of psychology, was recognized for contributions to the fields of child health and development, particularly for new approaches to understanding the effects of experience on children’s biobehavioral development.
• David Spooner, a professor of horticulture, was honored for distinguished work in systematics, evolution, and the domestication of potatoes, tomatoes and their wild relatives.
• Frank A. Weinhold, a professor emeritus of chemistry, was recognized for development of the “natural bond orbital” method widely used to gain insight into chemical bonding through quantum chemical calculations.
• James C. Weisshaar, professor of chemistry, was honored for outstanding contributions to understanding the reactions of metal ions, the spectroscopy of radicals and the dynamic microscopy of biomolecules.