The Weed Science Society of America (WSSA) celebrates a prestigious honor bestowed recently on one of its longtime members, Martin (Marty) Williams, Ph.D., a research ecologist for the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Agricultural Research Service (ARS) in Urbana, Illinois, and associate editor of Weed Science, a WSSA publication. In April, the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) Council elected Dr. Williams to its 2023 class of Fellows "for distinguished contributions to the fields of weed science and vegetable crop production, and service to those communities."
WESTMINSTER, Colo., May 9, 2024 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- The Weed Science Society of America (WSSA) celebrates a prestigious honor bestowed recently on one of its longtime members, Martin (Marty) Williams, Ph.D., a research ecologist for the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Agricultural Research Service (ARS) in Urbana, Illinois, and associate editor of Weed Science, a WSSA publication. In April, the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) Council elected Dr. Williams to its 2023 class of Fellows "for distinguished contributions to the fields of weed science and vegetable crop production, and service to those communities."
Dr. Williams and his research teams are internationally renowned for breakthrough research on multiple topics, which include mitigating the dual threat from weeds and climate change on grain crops. "The AAAS Fellows recognition is a very prestigious honor and not often awarded to individuals working in a weed-science discipline," says Steve Young, Ph.D., National Program Leader for Weeds and Invasive Pests with the USDA ARS Crop Production and Protection National Program and member of WSSA's Research and Competitive Grants Committee. "All of us at WSSA and our collaborating scientists are ecstatic for Marty to achieve this well-deserved recognition. Not only has Marty and his team conducted weed science research on topics that are impactful and highly practical, but also those that are groundbreaking and innovative in their methodology."
With individual members in more than 91 countries around the globe, The American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) is the world's largest multi-disciplinary science organization and nonprofit publisher of the Science family of journals. The AAAS has awarded the lifetime Fellows distinction and recognition since 1874, and inventor Thomas Edison, current USDA Under Secretary and Chief Scientist Chavonda Jacobs-Young, and anthropologist Margaret Meade are among past recipients.
"Personally, I was quite surprised by this honor," says Dr. Williams. "It's humbling to know that the kind of applied agricultural research that I find rewarding is meaningful to this prestigious organization of scientists."
In addition to his research related to weed control and climate change in grain production, Dr. Williams and his research teams are also renowned for applied agricultural research that helps to deliver solutions to farmers, vegetable seed and food processing businesses in the U.S. and around the world. This includes research contributions that have significantly helped to improve edamame, snap bean and sweet corn production.
"My team's research accomplishments have only been possible because I've had incredible people to work with: from ARS and university colleagues, including Extension weed scientists, to motivated students, to food and seed industry representatives, several inquisitive farmers, and others," says Dr. Williams. "While our research has often exceeded the discipline of weed science, WSSA has always been my 'home' scientific organization."
Dr. Williams will be officially recognized along with other new AAAS Fellows at the Sept. 21, 2023 AAAS Annual Meeting and Fellows forum in Washington, DC. This latest class is comprised of 502 scientists, engineers and innovators across 24 AAAS disciplinary Sections.
About the Weed Science Society of America
The Weed Science Society of America, a nonprofit scientific society, was founded in 1956 to encourage and promote the development of knowledge concerning weeds and their impact on the environment. The Society promotes research, education and extension outreach activities related to weeds, provides science-based information to the public and policy makers, fosters awareness of weeds and their impact on managed and natural ecosystems, and promotes cooperation among weed science organizations across the nation and around the world. For more information, visit http://www.wssa.net.
Media Contact
Lee Van Wychen, National & Regional Weed Science Societies, 202-746-4686, [email protected], https://www.wssa.net/
SOURCE National & Regional Weed Science Societies
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