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News in Brief Researcher of the Year Donald V. Lightner, Professor in the Department of Veterinary Science, received the 1996 Researcher of the Year Award at the Fall Faculty and Staff Meeting on October 17. This award includes a check for $1,000. Dr. Lightner is considered by his peers to be one of the foremost, if not THE foremost, Shrimp Disease expert in the world. He steadfastly maintains research funding at a level of more than $500,000 per year, publishes ten or more articles a year, and is called upon worldwide by the shrimp industry to consult regarding disease problems. He collaborates on several international, interdisciplinary research teams and hosts numerous visiting scientists. He currently directs the work of four doctorate and two masters degree students. Dr. Lightner has also gained national and international recognition for the Shrimp Pathology course he and his colleagues host every summer on The University of Arizona campus. This course now draws upwards of 50 attendees from all over the world. It is considered the best course of its kind anywhere and an essential one for individuals preparing to enter into this field. Dr. Lightner has given invited lectures in Australia, Columbia, Ecuador, France, India, Mexico, and Thailand as well as across the United States. He is the author of The Handbook of Shrimp Pathology and Diagnostic Procedures for Diseases of Cultured Penaeid Shrimp. The University of Arizona Herbarium Did you know there is a museum for plants on campus that is open to the public Monday – Friday from 9–12 and 1–5? Plant specimens are collected, categorized and preserved for future study. The herbarium includes specimens and data for plants that grew in the Tucson basin when the population was much smaller and the Santa Cruz River flowed year round. The herbarium is used by botanists and students for research studies and class projects. Many others in the community use the herbarium as well. Law enforcement agencies may need to identify plants that are endangered species, plants that are the source of fibers and plants that help identify the scene of a crime. Arizona Poison Control uses the services of the herbarium to identify the source in cases of suspected poisoning. Horticulturalists may be looking for related plants to species that grow well in gardens. Homeowners may wish to identify weeds or rare plants or simply want advice on what plants to choose for their yards. The herbarium is located in 113 Shantz Building on the University of Arizona Campus, just southeast of the Forbes Building. Drop ins are welcome and help is provided on a first come, first served basis. The home page may be found at http://eebweb.arizona.edu/herb/herbhome.html Karnal Bunt Response Several College of Agriculture faculty are participating in a University of Arizona task force on the karnal bunt problem in Arizona. Members include Mike Ottman, extension agronomist and Al Simons, associate research scientist, both of the Department of Plant Sciences; Merritt Nelson, head of the Department of Plant Pathology; Mike Stanghellini and Bob Gilbertson, Professors of Plant Pathology; Steve Husman, agriculture agent with Maricopa County Cooperative Extension; Tim Knowles, agriculture agent with La Paz County Cooperative Extension; and Lee Clark, resident director of the Safford Agricultural Center. Karnal bunt is a fungal disease of wheat, which can affect the amount and quality of grain produced. It was first discovered in Arizona in March in durum wheat seed and has since been found in other varieties. Currently Arizona wheat is quarantined and must be certified as clean before harvested grain can be moved. Arizona AgNIC With the aid of a $55,939 grant from the National Agricultural Library, the University Library and several units in the College have designed a prototype subject module of the Arizona Agricultural Network Information Center (AgNIC). The national concept of an Agricultural Network Information Center is a dynamic World Wide Web-based resource to provide practical, current agricultural information and interactive learning tools to a broad constituency. Ultimately this resource will be used by students and faculty, clients of the College and Arizonans involved in ag-related industries and agencies. The Arizona team has developed a prototype module on range management. A demonstration was put together for the Council on Agricultural Research, Extension and Teaching at the NASULGC Western Regional Joint Summer Meetings. A presentation was also made to the Arizona Farm Bureau. Interest has been very high and the team is currently applying for grant support to enhance this site. Jeanne Pfander of the UA Library is the Arizona AgNIC Project Coordinator. Team members include Carla Casler, Michael Hazeltine, and Barbara Hutchinson, all of Arid Lands; Doug Jones and Carla Stoffle (Principle Investigator) of the UA Library; Robert MacArthur of the College Networking Group; Mitch McClaran and George Ruyle of the School of Renewable Natural Resources. In addition to the units contributing team members, other partners include the UA’s College of Agriculture Agriculture Communications Systems and Cooperative Extension, Arizona State Public Information Network (ASPIN), the National Agricultural Library, and the Society for Range Management. Visit the first phase of Arizona AgNIC at http://ag.arizona.edu/OALS/agnic/home.html. Article Written by Susan McGinley, ECAT, College
of Agriculture The information in this article was provided by Robert Leonard, Head of the Department of Plant Sciences, and Philip Jenkins, Assistant Curator of the Herbarium. Lucinda McDade of the Department of Ecology, who also teaches courses in Plant Sciences, is the Curator. |