NSC Alliance past-president Dr. Terry L. Yates will be recognized posthumously at the 2008 annual meeting of the American Institute of Biological Sciences (AIBS). Dr. Yates will receive the 2008 AIBS Distinguished Scientist Award. Accepting on his behalf will be his wife Nancy. The AIBS annual meeting is being held at the Westin Arlington Gateway Hotel, 801 North Glebe Road, Arlington, Virginia 22203 on May 12, 2008.
The AIBS Distinguished Scientist Award is presented to individuals who have made significant scientific contributions to the biological sciences. At the time of his death in December 2007, Yates was vice president for research and economic development at the University of New Mexico (UNM), as well as curator of genomic resources for UNM’s Museum of Southwestern Biology. He served as president of the Natural Science Collections Alliance from 2004-2007 where he worked tirelessly on the national stage to increase awareness of the vitally important research in biological diversity, evolution, and ecology that is conducted at our nation’s natural science collections and museums. Yates was best known for his groundbreaking research that isolated the source of the deadly hantavirus, the serious respiratory disease that began afflicting many in the American Southwest in 1993. He was a member of the Board of Life Sciences of the National Academy of Sciences and an honorary member of the Society of Mammalogists, the highest honor bestowed by the organization. Yates’ wife, Nancy, will accept the award on his behalf.
To view a listing of prior Distinguished Scientist Award recipients, please visit http://www.aibs.org/about-aibs/award_aibs_distinguished_scientist.html.