National organization honors Shaw for service
David Shaw
A national organization is honoring Mississippi State’s chief research officer for his work addressing one of agriculture’s greatest global challenges.
At its annual conference last week, the Weed Science Society of America presented David Shaw, the university’s vice president for research and economic development, with its 2015 Public Service Award for his leadership on the issue of herbicide resistance. A past president of the WSSA, he currently serves as the chairman of the Herbicide Resistance Education Committee.
In announcing the award, the society noted that Shaw -- who holds the faculty rank of Giles Distinguished Professor of Plant and Soil Sciences -- chaired a USDA-APHIS task force on Herbicide Resistance Best Management Practices and Recommendations, a Council for Agricultural Science and Technology task force on the impacts of resistant weeds on tillage systems, and the planning committee for two Herbicide Resistance Summits at the National Academy of Sciences. He also has participated in the largest long-term field project on glyphosate resistance management ever established.
Beginning his career at MSU in 1985 as an assistant professor of weed science, Shaw has played a key role in the creation and leadership of several cross-disciplinary research centers that focus on the applications of remote sensing technology to resource management.
Prior to being named vice president in December 2009, Shaw served as the director of the Northern Gulf Institute, an MSU-led NOAA Cooperative Institute. He also was director of the Geosystems Research Institute at MSU, a research and outreach institute focused on understanding the earth's natural and managed systems.
Shaw is a fellow of the WSSA and, in 2008, was named a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science.
He holds a bachelor's degree in agriculture from Cameron University in Oklahoma and a master's and doctorate from Oklahoma State University, both in weed science.
More than two dozen individuals were recognized for their outstanding contributions to the field of weed science during the Lexington, Kentucky, meeting, according to the WSSA.
“We were delighted to honor scientists who are spearheading innovations and advancing the weed science profession through their research, teaching, publishing and outreach,” said Joe DiTomaso, WSSA’s president.
The Weed Science Society of America, a nonprofit scientific society, was founded in 1956 to encourage and promote the development of knowledge concerning weeds and their impact on the environment. Learn more about the WSSA at http://wssa.net.
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Jim Laird | Public Affairs
