Dr. Harold Mooney honored with Nevada Medal award
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by Frankie Vigil, Outpost Staff
Plant research earned Dr. Harold Mooney Nevada's most prestigous scientifc award.
On March 28, 2000 in the Grand Ballroom of the Reno Hilton hotel, governmental and business leaders of Northern Nevada gathered to congratulate Dr. Mooney on receiving the Nevada Medal Award.
"Welcome to the 13th Nevada Medal Award Dinners, where we honor the very best scientists in Nevada" Sue Wagner said.
Other guests included, Governor Kenny Guinn and his wife, Dema, State Controller Kathy Augustine and State Senator Mike McGinnes and Dee, his wife.
The Desert Research Institute (DRI) gives the Nevada Medal Award each year, to an individual who has made great scientific strides in the state of Nevada. To celebrate this great accomplishment two dinners are held in their honor, one in Reno and the other in Las Vegas. The Las Vegas dinner will take place on March 30, 2000.
Dr. Mooney, a graduate of Stanford University is a member of the National Academy of Sciences and former president of the Ecological Society of America and the American Institute of Biological Sciences. Mooney has pioneered approaches in plant research. Mooney's research has involved examining the mechanisms involved in the responses of plants to their environment providing critical knowledge about adaptive strategies. Mooney commented on the importance of understanding evolutionary trends and the vast impacts that changing conditions can have on our natural environment.
At one point Mooney asked the audience to look at the centerpieces of their table, which had several different types of flowers included sunflowers and snapdragons. Also each table had a fishbowl with one goldfish and several small plants.
"Everything that you see on your table came from someplace else, some other environment for the most part and it is vital that we respect the differences in our environments and learn form them," Mooney said.
The night concluded with Mooney's acceptance speech and his encouragement of everyone taking their centerpieces home and continue to nourishes and care for the plants.
Nevada is the only State that awards a medal in its name to acknowledge outstanding scientific achievement. The Nevada Medal Award is sponsored by Nevada Bell and the sponsorship includes a minted 8-ounce medallion of .999 pure silver, a $10,000 prize and travel expenses for the medallist and a guest.
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Posted March 31, 2000
Copyright 2000 Nevada Outpost
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