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TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – The Florida A&M University (FAMU) Environmental Science Institute was recently awarded the Florida Sea Grant Elise B. Newell Award. The grant will provide funds to host a distinguished scientist.
“To be awarded a Newell Seminar Grant is an honor and to be able to use its support to attract a scientist and administrator of the caliber of Dr. Rita Colwell is fantastic,” said Henry N. Williams, Ph. D., director of the ESI and author of the grant. “Students will be able to interact with an excellent role model that has broken through numerous glass ceilings to hold positions such as the director of the National Science Foundation (NSF).”
This grant will fund the travel and associated expenses for Rita Colwell, Ph.D., an internationally distinguished scientist, microbial ecologist and former director of the National Science Foundation.
Colwell is chairman of Canon US Life Sciences, Inc., and distinguished university professor both at the University of Maryland at College Park and John Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health. Her interests are focused on global infectious diseases, water and health. She is currently developing an international network to address emerging infectious disease and water issues, including safe drinking water for both the developed and developing worlds.
Colwell served as the 11th director of the National Science Foundation from 1998-2004. In her capacity as NSF director, she served as co-chair of the committee on science of the National Science and Technology Council. One of her major interest included K-12 science and mathematics education, graduate science and engineering.
Before going to NSF, Colwell was president of the University of Maryland Biotechnology Institute and professor of microbiology. She was also a member of the National Science Board from 1984 to 1990.
Colwell has previously served as chairman of the Board of Governors of the American Academy of Microbiology. She served as president of the American Association for the Advancement of Science; the Washington Academy of Sciences; the American Society for Microbiology; the Sigma XI National Science Honorary Society and the International Union of Microbiologist Societies.
Colwell is a member of the National Academy of Sciences; the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, Stockholm; the American Academy of Arts and Science; and the American
Philosophical Society.
Colwell has been awarded 40 honorary degrees from institutions of higher education including her alma mater, Purdue University.
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