BALTIMORE, MD (DECEMBER 7, 2011)— As part of the Maryland-Asia Environmental Partnership’s third annual banquet to honor Maryland’s energy and environmental leaders, Dr. Donald Boesch, president of the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science and one of the preeminent estuarine scientists in the world, received the Maryland-Asia Environmental Partnership’s 2011 MD Energy & Environmental Leadership Award.
The Maryland-Asia Environmental Partnership annually recognizes a Maryland leader who has provided both state and national leadership on energy and environment issues. University System of Maryland Chancellor Dr. William E. Kirwan presented the award to Dr. Boesch at the December 6 event.
Dr. Boesch leads the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science, five labs situated throughout the state that conduct cutting-edge research into today's most pressing environmental problems. He is active in extending knowledge to environmental and resource management at regional, national and international levels and has a unique ability to translate science in ways that are useful not only to his fellow Marylanders, but to people around the world. He has served as science advisor to many state and federal agencies and regional and international programs. He was appointed by President Obama to the National Commission on the BP Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill and Offshore Drilling and served on the National Research Council's Committee that produced the report America's Climate Choices.
Other awardees included Thomas Sprehe, Senior Vice President, Environmental Discipline Manager, KCI Technologies, the recipient of MD-AEP's Business Partner of the Year Award; and Bradley Gillenwater, Regional Asia Manager, Department of Business and Economic Development the recipient of MD-AEP's Sustainable Economic Development Award.
Over 150 leaders from business, government, science and the Asian embassy community gathered at the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Sciences Institute of Marine and Environmental Technology in Baltimore to recognize leaders who have helped to promote Maryland's innovative energy and environmental science and technology expertise to Asia and around the world.
The evening featured remarks from the Honorable Jose L. Cuisia, Jr., Ambassador of the Philippines to the United States, Maryland Department of Environment Secretary Dr. Robert Summers, Chancellor of the University System of Maryland William E. Kirwan and Coca-Cola Refreshments Environmental Manager Joseph Richardson.
The Maryland-Asia Environmental Partnership includes more than 500 private, academic and government organizations in its network throughout the Mid-Atlantic and multiple Asian nations. The private trade group seeks to combine leading science and technology with best government models, business solutions and financing options in order to address water, energy and climate change issues in Asia.
UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND CENTER FOR ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE
The University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science harnesses the power of science to transform the way society understands and manages the environment. By conducting cutting-edge research into today's most pressing environmental problems, we are developing new ideas to help guide our state, nation, and world toward a more environmentally sustainable future through five research centers—the Appalachian Laboratory in Frostburg, the Chesapeake Biological Laboratory in Solomons, the Horn Point Laboratory in Cambridge, the Institute of Marine and Environmental Technology in Baltimore, and the Maryland Sea Grant College in College Park. www.umces.edu
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