Governor Mitch Daniels announced November 8th the state will create the Dr. Philip E. Nelson Innovation Prize to recognize outstanding Hoosier scientists for their unique discoveries, research and inventions.

The prize is named in honor of Dr. Nelson, a distinguished Purdue University scientist who was awarded the 2007 World Food Prize in October for his revolutionary achievements in the field of food processing. Dr. Nelson, whose career has spanned more than 45 years at Purdue, was the university's first department head of food science and is the Scholle Chair Professor in Food Processing. Dr. Nelson won the prestigious World Food Prize, which is considered to be the Nobel Prize of agriculture, for developing the aseptic process to store fruits and vegetables to prevent post-harvest spoilage.

The great scientist or inventor does far more to improve people's lives than the politicians, business leaders or entertainers who dominate the headlines, said Daniels. It's time we lifted up and honored those Hoosiers whose scientific achievements will make us the great state we intend to be.

Daniels said the Nelson Innovation Prize will recognize a Hoosier scientist whose work goes beyond pure scientific research and leads to the creation of products or processes that revolutionizes industry, inspires further scientific inquiry, and improves the quality of life. Recipients will be scientists with a unique combination of intellectual curiosity, scientific expertise, and entrepreneurial spirit. The prize will come with a cash award of $5,000, which will be funded by the Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC) Foundation. A panel of distinguished Indiana scientific researchers and entrepreneurs will work with the IEDC to establish the selection criteria for the prize.

Dr. Nelson, originally from Morristown, joined the Purdue faculty in 1961, where he earned his undergraduate and graduate degrees. He has spent his career pursuing research that led to the development of the aseptic processing and packaging of vegetables and fruits. His award-winning innovations are present in nearly every country world in the world and have had a positive impact on the world food supply.

Among his many awards, Nelson received the prestigious Nicholas Appert Award from the Institute of Food Technologists in 1995 top award for preeminence in the field of food science and technology.

Source: Office of Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels

BioCrossroads works to support basic scientific research, create new business and research opportunities through academic/industry collaborations and build more entrepreneurial capacity in the region in order to accelerate job creation and new business formation in Indiana.

Visit their intriguing web site at www.biocrossroads.com

Rivers Institute at Hanover College

The Rivers Institute at Hanover College serves as a world-wide educational resource for promoting integrated research, teaching, learning and planning for all aspects of river-centered ecosystems, economies and cultures. The Institute studies the quality of life and commerce along the rivers of the world.

To learn more about their many research projects, visit: www.riversinstitute.org/

West Nile Virus

Click here to obtain the latest information for the virus in Indiana

Lilly Endowment Inc. Awards Indiana University $26 Million Grant

Part of an initiative to expand intellectual capital at the state's colleges and universities.

The money will be used for these purposes:

• $10 million to recruit six of the nation's leading neuroscience researchers for IU Presidential Life Science Professorships, of which three will be at the IU School of Medicine in Indianapolis and three at the College of Arts and Sciences in Bloomington. The intent is to raise neuroscience research at IU to international prominence.
• $10 million to endow a merit-based Hoosier Presidential Scholars program that will attract 30 to 40 more of Indiana's top achieving high school students to IU each year.
• $5 million for an arts and humanities program to assist in the creation of new musical compositions and works of art, special conferences and workshops, master classes and visits by international scholars and performers.
• $1 million to support associated activities in furtherance of the initiative's goals and objectives.
  Herbert said the grant corresponds with three of the strategic priorities he has laid out for the university -- attracting more of Indiana's highest achieving high school students, making IU a recognized national leader in life sciences teaching and research, and maintaining IU's preeminent position in the arts and humanities.
  

Emerald Ash Borer Confirmed in Indiana

DNR officials have confirmed that the emerald ash borer has infected a tree in Steuben County. This is the first confirmation of the ash tree-killing pest in Indiana. The larval stage of the insect destroys live ash trees by eating the layers under the bark of the tree that supplies nutrients. After those layers are destroyed, the tree starves to death within a short time. Infestations are most easily identified by tiny D-shaped holes that are visible on the tree's bark. The bark may also develop lenghtwise cracks or fissures.
To date, millions of ash trees have fallen prey to this pest in Michigan and has also been found in Ohio.

State Entomologist Dr. Robert Waltz has announced that the state would begin to take steps to contain the spread of the infestation. Homeowners can help by keeping their trees well watered and watching out for sighns of this pest. Additional information is available on the DNR web site at:
www.in.gov/dnr/entomolo/pestinfo/ashborer.htm

South American Plant Invades Lake

Click here to read about this infestation in Griffy Lake near Bloomington

Weevils put on Grand Calumet to eradicate purple loosestrife

Click here to read how this tiny insect is combating a major invasive plant species

Invasive Plant Species Assessment Work Group (IPSAWG)

Many agencies and organizations have joined together to form the Invasive Plant Species Assessment Working Group (IPSAWG) to assess which plant species threaten natural areas in Indiana and develop recommendations regarding the use of that specific plant species.

Go to IPSAWG's web site to learn about their work and recommendations.

Vinca minor (Periwinkle) - still commonly sold in area nurseries

Center for Earth and Environmental Science
Indiana University ~ Purdue University, Indianapolis

www.cees.iupui.edu/

Read about the latest research in environmental studies for Indiana