The American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineering (ASABE) held their annual international meeting from July 17th-20th at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort in Orlando, Florida. The Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering at Texas A&M had an outstanding representation, winning a variety of awards and receiving recognition for their many accomplishments.
Dr. Dana Porter, ’87, was the recipient of the PEI Professional Engineer of the Year Award for dedicated service in support of professional engineering licensure for agricultural and biological engineers and recognized under the 2016 Presidential Citations for outstanding leadership of the PE exam writing committee. Porter, Extension Program Leader and Associate Department Head Professor and Extension Agricultural Engineering Specialist at Texas A&M’s Research and Extension Center in Lubbock and. There she implements research and develops programs for water management and crop production with her goal being to support water conservation and mitigate impacts on the declining water system. Porter has worked as a liaison between multiagency teams to improve research programs and has developed multiple educational resources. She has been a member of ASABE for over 25 years and has been the recipient of many awards, including several ASABE Blue Ribbon awards, Excellence in Extension Education from Texas A&M Award, and the National Excellence in Multistate Research Team Award. Additionally, Dr. Porter has been extensively involved with ASABE, including service on the Board of Trustees, has reviewed several publications, and has authored and coauthored over 250 publications.
Dr. Guy Fipps, ’79, received the 2016 ASABE Educational Aids Blue Ribbon Award for his publication titled “Surge Flow Irrigation Fact Sheet”.
Dr. Patti Smith and Kori Higgs, ’15, were the recipients of a 2016 ASABE Superior Paper Award for their publication, “Vegetated Treatment Area Effectiveness at Reducing Nutrient Runoff from Small Swine Operations in Central Texas” under the Natural Resources & Environmental Systems category.
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r. Fouad Jaber received a 2016 Standards Development Award for his revision of ASAE S526.4 SEP2015, Soil and Water Terminology NRES-07, Nomenclature, where the ANSI five-year periodic review of the standard called for clarifications, revisions, additions, and deletions of entries to accommodate advances in the soil and water scientific fields.
Dr. Daren Harmel, Texas A&M BAEN Adjunct Assistant Professor, is an agricultural engineer and research leader at the USDA-Agricultural Research Service in Temple. He was awarded the 2016 ADS/Hancor Soil and Water Engineering Award for advancing water quality policies and decision-making through scientific advances in data collection and uncertainty quantification. Harmel is recognized internationally as a leader in hydrologic and water quality measurement methodology, where he developed foundational techniques for water quality sampling used equally by governmental agencies, universities, and the private sector. In addition to his numerous authored publications and awards, Harmel has served in leadership positions within ASABE such as the Board of Trustees, Refereed Publications Committee, Chair of the Meetings Council, and provided leadership to the Soil and Water division.
Dr. Gary A. Clark, ’86, who now works as the senior associate dean and professor of the Kansas State University College of Engineering Department, was elected as a 2016 ASABE Fellow, ASABE’s highest honor. Clark was honored for his contributions to irrigation and water management, as well as teaching. He has been crucial to leadership and development within his 32-year membership of the ASABE, and has been the recipient of several awards, as well as authored and co-authored many publications that serve to advance agricultural and biological engineering.
Dr. Lisa Wilken, ’09, was the recipient of the 2016 A.W. Farrall Young Educator Award for her outstanding contributions in engineering education and dedication to the professional development and mentoring of students. She is currently an assistant professor at Kansas State University, where she led the incorporation of advanced biological sciences, as well as the development of the biological option in her department. Wilken has developed a bioseparations and bioprocessing laboratory and an educational model that integrates quality research experience.
Dr. Michael Buser, ’04, an Oklahoma State associate professor, was the recipient of the 2016 Mayfield Cotton Award in recognition of his innovative air quality research and leadership efforts benefiting the cotton ginning industry. Buser focuses on air quality, bioenergy and agricultural logistics, and product traceability in his research and extension activities. He co-led the largest and most comprehensive air quality study ever conducted in the cotton gin industry and his research has addressed many industry issues.
Dr. Garey Fox, ’98, Professor and Orville L. and Helen L. Buchanan Endowed Chair in the Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering Department at Oklahoma State, was awarded a 2016 ASABE Superior Paper Award for the publication titled “Heterogeneity of Infiltration Rates in Alluvial Floodplains as Measured with a Berm Infiltration Technique” under the Natural Resources & Environmental Systems category.
Dr. Jason Vogel, ’97, was awarded a 2016 Standards Development Award for his revision of ANSI/ASAE S422.1 DEC2015, Mapping Symbols and Nomenclature for Erosion and Sediment and Associated Pollutants, where mapping abbreviations and symbols were missing as well as newer control practices now in common usage, included.
Dr. Kati Migliaccio, ’97, a University of Florida professor, was recognized as an Outstanding Associate Editor for Natural Resources & Environmental Systems.
Dr. Saqib Mukhtar, a former Texas A&M BAEN faculty member, received a 2016 Standards Development Award for his revision of ANSI/ASABE EP585 DEC2015, Animal Mortality Composting NRES-27, Ag Byproducts & Animal Mortality Systems, where a new ASABE standard was developed to provide the basic planning, design, management and troubleshooting guidelines for the biosecure, environmentally acceptable, and economically sustainable disposal of livestock mortalities and carcass components via composting.
Dr. Marty Matlock, a former Texas A&M BAEN faculty member, was recognized under the 2016 Presidential Citations for his outstanding ASABE leadership in sustainability through dedicated work that resulted in the publication of a new standard, ANSI/ASABE S629, Framework to Evaluate the Sustainability of Agricultural Production Systems and the four-part series in Resource on the global role, challenges, and opportunities for agricultural and biological engineers in sustainable agriculture.
The large number of awards and honors received by the faculty and graduates of the Texas A&M’s Biological and Agricultural Engineering Department, confirms the impact BAEN has on engineering as well as globally, in order to create a sustainable tomorrow. Congratulations to all those recognized.
Article by Whitney Steinmann
For details about this news story and others please contact Stormy Kretzschmar, stormyk@tamu.edu.