Dr. Donald Boesch, one of the preeminent estuarine scientists in the world, has been honored with the Maryland-Asia Environmental Partnership’s 2011 MD Energy & Environmental Leadership Award.
The Maryland-Asia Environmental Partnership annually recognizes a Maryland leader who has provided both state and national leadership on energy and environment issues. Dr. Boesch was presented with the award by University System of Maryland Chancellor Dr. William E. Kirwan during the group’s third annual banquet to honor Maryland’s energy and environmental leaders.
“Don has the unique ability to translate the complexities of estuary science into everyday language so that its impact if fully understood by the public and policy makers alike,” said Chancellor Kirwan at the event.
Dr. Boesch leads the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science, five labs situated throughout the state that conduct cutting-edge research into today's most pressing environmental problems. He is active in extending knowledge to environmental and resource management at regional, national and international levels and has a unique ability to translate science in ways that are useful not only to his fellow Marylanders, but to people around the world.
As an internationally recognized expert on the issue of human impact on the environment, Dr. Boesch has conducted research on coastal and continental shelf ecosystems through the United States, as well as internationally. He has published extensively on marine ecology, coastal oceanography and environmental policy.
He has also served as science advisor to many state and federal agencies and regional and international programs. He is Chair of the National Research Council’s Ocean Studies Board, served as a member of the National Academies’ Committee on America’s Climate Choices, and in 2010 was selected by President Obama as one of seven members to serve on the National Commission on the BP Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill. Locally, he is the University System of Maryland Vice Chancellor for Environmental Sustainability
Over 150 leaders from business, government, science and the Asian embassy community gathered in Baltimore at the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science’s Institute of Marine and Environmental Technology to recognize Maryland leaders who have helped to promote Maryland's innovative energy and environmental science and technology expertise to Asia and around the world.
