Higher Learning

UNH Cooperative Extension floriculture specialist Paul Fisher, agricultural program coordinator Dorothy Perkins, and county educators Goeffrey Njue and Tom Buob received national recognition awards last month.

Lighting Up Profits, a book Fisher co-wrote and edited with Erik Runkle, Extension specialist from Michigan State, received a 2005 Blue Ribbon Award for an Education Aid http://www.asabe.org/awards/educomp/index.html from the American Society of Agricultural Engineers. The book, targeted at commercial growers, technical representatives, and university students, covers topics such as the basic biology of how light affects growth, the latest lighting research, and technical and financial information to help guide investment decisions in lighting equipment.

Perkins was honored as one of three national finalists in the 4-H and Youth Recognition category at the National Association of County Agricultural Agents (NACAA) annual conference in Buffalo July 17-22 for her work on the children’s gardening curriculum Growing a Green Generation http://horticulture.unh.edu/ggg.html. Perkins took the original curriculum developed by horticulture students, revised it, added to it, and tested it on both teachers and children at the UNH Child Study and Development Center (CSDC). The final curriculum represents collaboration among the UNH plant biology department, the CSDC, and UNH Cooperative Extension.

Njue, the Strafford County agricultural resources educator won communication awards for a fact sheet on using the Renaissance Red Poinsettia cut flower, and for a feature article on a Poinsettia variety trial, published in The Plantsman. Buob, Grafton County agricultural resources educator, received a NACAA Distinguished Service Award for 26 years of exemplary Extension programming. (08-03-05)

John Carroll, professor of environmental conservation, has published a new book, "The Wisdom of Small Farms and Local Food: Aldo Leopold’s Land Ethic and Sustainable Agriculture." Focusing on the land grant universities, particularly in New England and the Midwest, Carroll’s book provides a vision of where our public land grant universities might go, in research, in teaching, in outreach, inspired by the farmers who know best from their own experience, and providing vision and hope for many who want to play a role in increasing their own food security. (07-27-05)

A. Kent Thoeni (left), president of the MSM-UMR Academy of Chemical Engineers and Judy Raper (right), chair of the UMR Department of Chemical Engineering, present Virendra Mathur with his award.

Virendra K. “VK” Mathur, professor of chemical engineering, was selected for membership in the Academy of Chemical Engineers at the University of Missouri-Rolla. Established in 1996, the academy is composed of alumni “who are successful in their profession and who epitomize industrial and civic leadership skills of highest repute.” (07-19-05)









An article written by Virginia Stuart, interim associate editor at the UNH Magazine, has been awarded a national silver medal from the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE). The article on UNH's lobster research, "Crustaceans with Attitude" (http://www.unhmagazine.unh.edu/sp04/crustaceans.html), which appeared in the Spring 2004 issue of the magazine, was selected from 249 entries in a competition for "Best Articles of the Year." (07-13-05)

George K. Romoser, professor emeritus of political science and former director of the UNH interdisciplinary program on technology, society and values, has been notified that he will receive a grant o 800 British Pounds from Wilton Park in West Sussex, England, UK, to attend that organization's conference on "The Neighborhood of the European Union in Central and Eastern Europe" in Vienna, Austria, in September. (06-13-05)

Owen Rogers, professor emeritus of plant biology and former chair of the Department of Plant Science, has been awarded the highest award given by the New Hampshire Federation of Garden Clubs -- the 2005 Gold Seal Award. The award was made for his long-term contributions as "scientist, educator, lilac breeder, as well as good citizen of the world" at the annual state meeting of the NH Federation of Garden Clubs May 25. Rogers has served the UNH community for many years, is a sought after speaker by many garden clubs in New England and has been a great ambassador for UNH. He has contributed much over the years through his scholarly work as a lilac breeder and is a member of the Board of Directors of the International Lilac Society. He has served many years as the editor of the Journal of the International Lilac Society. Though he retired about 10 years ago, he remains an active member of the Department of Plant Biology. (06-01-05)