This column offers a sampling of honors recently awarded to UC Davis' faculty, staff and units:

Professor William Lucas, chair of the Section of Plant Biology, and Deborah Delmer, professor emeritus and former chair of plant biology, were named as fellows of the American Society of Plant Biology at the society's annual meeting in July. This is the first year that this award, which recognizes distinguished, long-term contributions to plant biology and service to the Society, has been presented. Lucas and Delmer were among 51 fellows named in the inaugural class.

Peter Moyle, the foremost expert on native freshwater fishes of California, recently received the Award of Excellence from the American Fisheries Society and the Outstanding Achievement Award from the American Institute of Fishery Research Biologists. Both are the top national awards of each organization given to just one person each year.

Walter Leal, professor and chair of the Department of Entomology, was tapped for the International Society of Chemical Ecology's 2007 Silverstein-Simeone Lecture Award. It was given to him for his innovative research on how insects detect smells and communicate within their species. Leal, a noted chemical ecologist, received the award at the scientific society's annual conference in Jena, Germany.

W. Douglas Gubler, Cooperative Extension specialist in the Department of Plant Pathology, was elected president of the 721-member Pacific Division of the American Phytopathological Society, beginning his term earlier this summer. Gubler will serve until June of 2008.

Rand Conger received the first Institute for Social and Behavioral Research Recognition Award at Iowa State University. A professor in the Department of Human and Community Development, Conger was founder of the ISBR and served as director from 1989 to 2000, when he came to UC Davis. The ISBR's mission is to support interdisciplinary social science research that increases our understanding of important social problems and improves the quality of people's lives.

Professor Edward DePeters of the Department of Animal Science was awarded the American Dairy Society Association "2007 American Feed Industry Association Award" at the annual meeting held in San Antonio, Texas. The basis for this award is the "best original published work on dairy cattle nutrition during the prior 10 calendar years."

Arboretum Director Kathleen Socolofsky was awarded the 2007 Professional Citation award at the annual meeting of the American Public Gardens Association in Washington, D.C., in June. One of the highest awards in the field of public horticulture, the APGA Professional Citation recognizes the accomplishments of a mid-career professional who has excelled in one of the disciplines generally associated with public gardens.

UC Davis Extension's Green Build-ing and Sustainable Design Certificate Program was recently awarded Outstanding Credit Program (Region West) from the University Continuing Education Association (UCEA), the principal U.S. organization for continuing higher education. Developed as a joint program between Gene Crumley, business and technology vice-chair, and Jeff Loux, land use and natural resources director, the 10-course program addresses the trend of developing healthier communities through sustainable design.

Simon Cherry, professor of biomedical engineering has received a Distinguished Basic Scientist Award from the Academy of Molecular Imaging. The award was presented by Academy President Johannes Czernin at the 2007 Joint Molecular Imaging Conference held in Providence, R.I., on Sept. 8. Cherry delivered an invited lecture on his research in developing imaging technologies, and received $7,500 in recognition of his outstanding achievements in the field of molecular imaging.