Sigma Xi Research Society Honors Scientist, Communicator And Teachers With 2017 Awards
Sigma Xi, the research honor society at Texas A&M University, has awarded a scientist and a communicator with its top honors. The society also recognized three College Station math and science teachers for their excellence in the classroom.
The Outstanding Distinguished Scientist was awarded to Richard Gomer, a professor and holder of the Thomas W. Powell ’62 Chair in Science in the Department of Biology, College of Science, at Texas A&M. Gomer conducts research in three areas of biomedicine: tissue size regulation, tissue cell composition and fibrosing diseases. Gomer is a fellow of the American Academy of Microbiology and a National Academies Education Fellow in the Life Sciences. He holds a doctoral degree from California Institute of Technology, Pasadena.
The chapter’s Outstanding Science Communicator award went to Deborah F. Cowman, executive director of the Brazos Valley Museum of Natural History. Cowman has an academic background in environmental science, ecological conservation and natural history, climate change policy, as well as scientific research experience with US Geological Survey and Texas A&M. She holds a doctoral degree from Texas A&M in wildlife and fisheries sciences.
Sigma Xi also awarded Outstanding Math Teacher (Middle School) to Jamie Bassett, College Station Middle School and Stephanie Ryon, A&M Consolidated Middle School and Outstanding Science Teacher (High School) to Vanita Vance, College Station High School.
Sigma Xi is an international, chapter-based organization dedicated to nurturing the research enterprise in all fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Unique among scientific honor societies, Sigma Xi has a broad outlook that scans the spectrum of science and technology and is committed to the core values that unite across disciplinary boundaries. For more information, visit sigmaxi.tamu.edu.
About Research at Texas A&M University: As one of the world’s leading research institutions, Texas A&M is at the forefront in making significant contributions to scholarship and discovery, including that of science and technology. Research conducted at Texas A&M represented annual expenditures of more than $892.7 million in fiscal year 2016. Texas A&M ranked in the top 20 of the National Science Foundation’s Higher Education Research and Development survey (2015), based on expenditures of more than $866.6 million in fiscal year 2015. Texas A&M’s research creates new knowledge that provides basic, fundamental and applied contributions resulting, in many cases, in economic benefits to the state, nation and world. To learn more, visit http://research.tamu.edu.
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Media ContactMichelle Sullens, (979) 458-4066, sigmaxi@tamu.edu
