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| For Immediate Release:
|
September 09, 2003 |
| Contact(s): | Dr. Gary Machlis, (208) 885-7129
Gerry Gaumer, (202) 208-6843 |
| 2003 Canon National Parks Science Scholars Announced Scholarships Announced at the Vth World Parks Congress in South Africa
Durban, South Africa --- The 2003 Canon National Parks Science Scholars were announced today at the Vth World Parks Congress in Durban, South Africa. Eight new Ph.D. students were each awarded the prestigious $78,000 scholarship. This year’s recipients include students studying in Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Mexico, Peru and the United States. By providing support to Ph.D. students, the Canon National Parks Science Scholars Program is helping to develop the next generation of scientists working in the fields of conservation, environmental science, and national park management. The scholarship program is a collaboration among Canon U.S.A., Inc.; the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), the science society; and the National Park Service (NPS). The 2003 scholarship recipients were announced during a special reception for young conservationists sponsored by Canon U.S.A., held the evening of 9 September. National Park Service Director Fran Mainella also announced the commencement of the 2004 Canon National Parks Science Scholars Program competition. “I am once again very pleased to welcome the newest Canon scholarship recipients, and look forward to next year’s class as well. This program is a valued partnership consisting of students, universities, Canon U.S.A., the AAAS, and the NPS. I personally look forward to this as a wonderful opportunity to recognize young people and their role in this important event and to see the exciting research projects that will benefit the national parks.” Details of the 2004 competition are available at (www.nature.nps.gov/canonscholarships/). Chair of the World Commission on Protected Areas, Kenton Miller said, “The Canon National Parks Science Scholars Program is an outstanding illustration of corporate donors strengthening the capacity and effectiveness of protected areas leaders. These scholars will one day be leaders in the pursuit of worldwide conservation and the ecologically sustainable use of nature and natural resources. Their research and leadership will definitely provide benefits beyond boundaries, the theme of the Vth World Parks Congress.” Canon U.S.A., Inc. President and CEO, Kinya Uchida said, "Canon Scholars are ambassadors of Canon's commitment to conservation. We are honored to have these talented young scientists recognized at the Vth World Parks Congress, and for the role this program plays in furthering scientific understanding of protected areas around the globe.” Established in 1997, the program expanded internationally in 2002 to include the United States, Canada, Mexico, the countries of Central and South America, and the countries of the Caribbean. Canon National Parks Science Scholars have conducted research in over 50 national parks, and published and presented over 75 scientific articles and presentations. The expanded program annually awards eight individual scholarships, totaling US$624,000, to Ph.D. students from throughout the Americas. Scholars are selected from the disciplines of biological sciences, physical sciences, social/cultural sciences and technology innovation in support of conservation science. The scholarships provide these students with resources to conduct research critical to conserving the national parks of the Americas. AAAS CEO, Dr. Alan I. Leshner, executive publisher of the AAAS journal, Science, said, “The Canon National Parks Science Scholars Program is an extraordinary program that produces exceptional results. We are delighted that this program and its scholars were recognized at such a prestigious event at the Vth World Parks Congress. We believe that the program continues to select outstanding scholars who will advance science and innovation throughout the world for the benefit of all people." Dr. Gary Machlis, NPS Visiting Senior Scientist and Program Coordinator for the Canon National Parks Science Scholars Program for the Americas said, “Throughout the hemisphere, it’s clear that we need science for effective park management, and parks are extraordinary places for research in many scientific disciplines. ‘Parks for science, science for parks’ is essential – and the Canon National Parks Science Scholars Program for the Americas does both. These young scientists are extraordinary, and Canon U.S.A. is to be congratulated for the legacy it is building with their generous support.” Canon U.S.A.’s commitment to the Canon National Parks Science Scholars Program totals to date more than eight million dollars. Since 1990, the company’s environmental philanthropy has exceeded $30 million, establishing Canon as one of the largest corporate supporters of environmental education and conservation. Canon U.S.A., Inc., a subsidiary of Canon Inc., delivers consumer, business-to-business, and industrial imaging solutions. Canon also is a global leader in sustainable product design and industrial ecology. The American Association for the Advancement of Science is the world’s largest general scientific organization. They are committed to the Canon National Parks Science Scholars Program and to furthering the research efforts of these young scientists. The AAAS, the science society, is a nonprofit professional society dedicated to fostering scientific freedom and responsibility, improving the effectiveness of science in the promotion of human welfare, advancing education in science, and increasing the public’s understanding and appreciation of the promise of scientific methods in human progress. The National Park Service’s mission statement is to preserve roughly 83 million acres in 388 national parks for the enjoyment of future generations. Their duty is honorable, extraordinary, complex and technical. The variety, scope, and size of the parks managed by the NPS require scientific knowledge and expertise in biodiversity and natural resource management. For more information about the program contact Dr. Gary Machlis, Program Coordinator, Canon National Parks Science Scholars Program, Natural Resource Stewardship and Science, National Park Service, 1849 C Street, NW, MIB-3127, Washington, D.C. 20240; telephone: (202) 208-5391; or email: gmachlis@uidaho.edu. Dr. Machlis will be attending the Vth World Parks Congress 8-17 September 2003, and can be reached at (425) 239-6831.
Gillian Daly is a student at the University of Toronto in Toronto, Canada. Gillian is studying persistent organic pollutants in Banff and Revelstoke National Parks in Western Canada. Her objective is to gain an understanding of the movement and distribution patterns of these pollutants, and their potential impact on humans and alpine ecosystems. Her work will help improve scientific understanding of how contaminants operate in national parks and other environments. Cláudia Figueiredo is a student at Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, U.S. Claudia is studying how basic resource levels (staff, infrastructure, and funds) influence the effectiveness of management strategies and park conditions. She will be conducting her research in several national parks in Brazil. Her objective is to identify policies that facilitate the development of effective conservation strategies. Gabriela Nunez-Iturri is a student at the University of Illinois in Chicago, Illinois, U.S. Gabriela is studying the effects of hunting on tree regeneration in Manu National Park, Peru. Her objective is to identify the co-dependence of tree species in national parks and how they impact poaching. Renata Santoro de Sousa Lima Mobley is a student at Cornell University, New York City, New York, U.S. Renata is studying the vocal behavior and reproductive strategies of humpback whales in the Abrolhos National Marine Park, Brazil. Her work will help improve scientific understanding of the acoustic parameters of marine mammals and size. Her experiments will also provide a scientific foundation in evaluating the impact of whale-watching activities on breeding populations of humpback whales. Sarah Nelson is a student at the University of Maine in Orono, Maine, U.S. Sarah is studying watersheds in Acadia National Park in Maine. Her objective is to identify hydrologic and mercury mass balances in national parks. Her work will improve our understanding of the hydrology and chemistry of park ecosystems. Valeria Susana Ojeda is a student in the Zoology Department at Universidad Nacional del Comahue, Bariloche, Argentina. Valeria is studying the nest site selection and impact of the magellanic woodpecker (Campephilus magellanicu) in national parks in northwestern Argentine Patagonia. Her objectives include the establishment of criteria for nesting habitat use and selection of the magellanic woodpecker. Saudiel Ramírez-Sánchez is a student at Simon Fraser University in Burnaby, Canada. Saudiel is using a social network approach to study fish resource access and use practices in the Parque Nacional Bahía de Loreto in Mexico, in order to address marine resource conservation issues. His work will provide information on social network properties as indicators of cooperative management of sustainable resources. Daniel Jorge Somma is a student at the University of Buenos Aires in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Daniel is studying the connectivity of sustainable ecological networks in the Baritu and Calilegua National Parks in Argentina. His objective is to develop planning methods and spatial concepts for the design of sustainable park networks.
The following students received an Honorable Mention Award of $1000 each:
EXPERIENCE YOUR AMERICA™ The National Park Service cares for special places saved by the American people so that all may experience our heritage.
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