PULLMAN, Wash. — Stephen L. Clement, a research entomologist with the USDA-Agricultural Research Service Plant Germplasm Introduction and Testing Unit on the Washington State University campus, will receive the 2008 O.A. Vogel-WSCIA Crop Improvement Award. The award will be presented at the Washington State Crop Improvement Association’s annual meeting on Nov. 17 at the Mirabeau Park Hotel in Spokane.
The award is given annually to an individual in WSU’s College of Agricultural, Human, and Natural Resource Sciences, WSU Extension, or USDA who has made significant contributions to the pure seed program or crop production in Washington state.
“His research into the biological control of weeds by insects is still the basis for today’s ongoing work and while many are duplicating his ‘techniques,’ few are duplicating his science,” said entomology department chair Richard Zack in his letter of nomination.
“He has spent the past 21 years at WSU conducting an extensive entomological research program across a huge genetic diversity of crops in Washington state that has provided the entire seed industry a wealth of knowledge to solve emerging crop production issues,” wrote retired WSU Extension agronomist John Burns in a supporting letter.
Hired by the USDA-ARS in 1981, Clement arrived at WSU in 1986 where he also holds an adjunct faculty position in the Department of Entomology and has served on numerous graduate student and departmental committees as well as taught several courses. He is an active member of the Entomological Society of America where he has served on and chaired numerous committees, has served as a Pacific Branch officer, and a member of the governing board.
The Washington State Crop Improvement Association is a non-profit organization delegated by the Washington State Department of Agriculture to certify chickpea, field pea, lentil, soybean, sorghum, small grains (including wheat, barley, oats, millet, triticale, and buckwheat) and forest reproductive material.
Clement will receive a $1,000 cash award and plaque. The O.A. Vogel-WSCIA Crop Improvement award was first presented in 1974.
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