Impact Magazine - Spring 2008 - (Page 31)

Entomological Society Fellow spotlight nan-yao su The Entomological Society of America has selected Nan-Yao Su, a professor of entomology at UF’s Fort Lauderdale Research and Education Center, as an ESA Fellow for his outstanding research, teaching and extension contributions. He was recognized Dec. 9, 2007 in San Diego, Calif., at the society’s annual meeting. Su is an international authority on termites, including the highly destructive Formosan termite. His research led to the development of the Sentricon Termite Colony Elimination System marketed by Dow AgroSciences LLC in 18 countries. The product has reduced pesticide use by more than 6,000 metric tons. “Conventional pesticide treatments may keep termites out of buildings, but they don’t control termite colonies in the ground,” Su said. “Unlike traditional barrier control methods, our new system eliminates underground colonies of both subterranean and Formosan termites — a first for the pest control industry.” Su’s expertise prompted the National Park Service to seek his help in stopping termite infestations at historic landmarks such as the Statue of Liberty, the Cabildo and Presbytere in New Orleans’ French Quarter, San Cristobol in San Juan, Puerto Rico, and the Christiansted National Historic Site in St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands. He joined the faculty of UF’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences in 1984. Su completed his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in sericultural science at Kyoto Institute of Technology in Japan, and received his doctoral degree in entomology from the University of Hawaii. n – chuck woods For more information, contact: nan-yao su (954) 577-6339 nysu@ufl.edu Distinguished Mentor Award extend their research to undergraduate students. During the past four years, Folta has hosted research appointments for 17 undergraduate students, and five of them have contributed to peer-reviewed scientific journals. Overall, the undergraduate research findings have been presented in more than 20 abstracts and poster sessions at national and international conferences. The award is funded by the Howard Hughes Medical Institute as part of the UF’s Science for Life program. Each winner receives approximately $10,000 in funding to help develop and promote undergraduate research. Folta’s award has been earmarked for summer undergraduate internships to foster interest in graduate opportunities in plant science, such as those in UF’s plant molecular and cellular biology graduate program. Folta, who joined the UF faculty in 2002, has a dual research focus. He studies how various quantities, colors and durations of light treatment can affect important plant traits, such as stature, yield, or the timing of flowering. He also directs an internationally recognized strawberry genomics program and is the editor for the forthcoming book, Genetics and Genomics of the Rosaceae. He received his bachelor’s degree in biological sciences from Northern Illinois University in 1989 and his doctoral degree in molecular biology from University of Illinois in 1998. The Howard Hughes Medical Institute, headquartered in Chevy Chase, Md., is a nonprofit medical research organization and one of the nation’s largest philanthropies that helps advance biomedical research and science education in the United States. n – stu hutson For more information, contact: kevin folta (352) 392-1928 kfolta@ufl.edu kevin folta Kevin Folta, an assistant professor in the horticultural sciences department, is the first faculty member in UF’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences to receive the Howard Hughes Distinguished Mentor Award. The award was presented to him in March 2007. Now in its second year, the program recognizes researchers who IMPACT | Spring 2008 31

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Impact Magazine - Spring 2008

Impact Magazine - Spring 2008 Contents A Big Boost for Biofuels Top Priority Partnerships for Sustainable Agriculture Eliminating the Evil Weevil Invasive Pest Defeating Resistant Roaches Biodiesel Boon User-Friendly Updates for FAWN Flat-Out Great for the Grill! Laser Labeling Cashing in on Caviar Saving Water with Soil-Moisture Sensors Spotlight IFAS Development News

Impact Magazine - Spring 2008

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