Eight professors in the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences have been named AAAS Fellows by the American Association for the Advancement of Science. They were among 486 members chosen by peers to receive the honor for “meritorious” efforts to advance science or its applications.
“These faculty members represent the very best of the creativity, innovation and vision that are hallmarks of Illinois scholarship, ” says Richard Herman, the chancellor of the Urbana campus, of the 11 professors campuswide who were named Fellows. “They enrich the academic environment for our students, and they inspire their colleagues across campus and around the world.”
The LAS faculty members include Richard D. Braatz, Jeffrey D. Brawn, William S. Hammack, Xuming He, Feng Sheng Hu, Steven R. Leigh, Eric Oldfield, and Patrick J. Weatherhead.
Braatz, professor of chemical and biomolecular engineering, was chosen for his contributions to the field of control engineering, particularly for the control of chemical, materials, and pharmaceutical processes.
Brawn, professor of animal biology, was recognized for his contributions to the field of avian population biology, specifically for studies in avian demography and comparative life history evolution in temperate and tropical birds.
Hammack, professor of chemical and biomolecular engineering, was honored for his contributions in communicating science, technology, and engineering through American Public Media’s “Marketplace” radio program and through his service as a U.S. diplomat.
He, professor of statistics, was chosen for his contributions to the theory and applications in nonparametric and robust statistics, and for distinguished service to the profession as an editor and National Science Foundation program director.
Hu, professor of plant biology and geology, was recognized for his contributions to the fields of paleoecology and paleoclimatology, notably for deepening our understanding of the development of boreal ecosystems through the Holocene.
Leigh, professor of anthropology, was honored for his contributions to the field of biological anthropology, and particularly for innovative work in the areas of primate growth and life history theory.
Oldfield, professor of chemistry, was selected for his contributions to biological magnetic resonance, including chemical shift analysis and development of anti-malarial drugs.
Weatherhead, professor of animal biology, was chosen for his distinguished contributions to the field of animal behavior and ecology, particularly empirical studies of reproductive behavior and sexual selection in birds and snakes.
Three other U of I faculty members were named Fellows. They are J. Gary Eden, professor of electrical and computer engineering, Schuyler S. Korban, professor of molecular genetics, and John A. Rogers, founder professor of materials science and engineering.
The election of AAAS Fellows began in 1874. AAAS, which publishes the journal Science, was founded in 1848, and is the world’s largest general scientific society.
