Anne Kopecky Vidaver, Ph.D.

Dr. Vidaver is Professor and Head of the Department of Plant Pathology, University of Nebraska-Lincoln. She also served as Director of the Center for Biotechnology, from 1997 to 2000. From July 1,2000 to December, 2002, she was the Chief Scientist for the USDA's National Research Initiative Competitive Grants Program.

Dr. Vidaver, a native of Vienna, Austria, graduated from Russell Sage College, N.Y. with a B.A. in Biology, followed by M.A. and Ph.D. degrees in Bacteriology, with a minor in Plant Physiology at Indiana University-Bloomington.

Her career began with undergraduate summer employment at Brookhaven National Laboratory, followed by research associate experience in Plant Pathology at the University of Nebraska after obtaining her doctorate. She became a staff member of the Department of Plant Pathology and moved up the ranks to her present position. She has been very active in her major professional society, the American Phytopathological Society, including achieving the Presidency. She also served as President of the Intersociety Consortium for Plant Protection, and President of the Board of the H.A.W. Institute for Alternative Agriculture. She chaired the National Plant Pathology Board of the APS and chaired the Food and Agriculture Committee of the American Society for Microbiology's Public and Scientific Affairs Board. She is a former member of the USDA's National Agricultural, Research, Extension, Education, and Economics Advisory Board and served on the Board of Directors for the USDA's Alternative Agricultural Research and Commercialization Corporation. She currently serves on the Environmental Literacy Council and as the only member of the National Science Advisory Board for Biosecurity representing plant science.

Her research interests have focused principally on plant-associated bacteria. This work has included systematics, epidemiology and control, plasmid, bacteriophage and bacteriocin characterization and genetics. She has also been interested in research policy issues. Her work has led to her being advisor or consultant to several companies and Federal agencies, including membership on the NIH-RAC (Recombinant DNA Advisory Committee) and USDA-ABRAC (Agricultural Biotechnology Research Advisory Committee). She has authored or co-authored over 200 scientific articles and a book. In collaboration with colleagues, she also holds two patents.

Sylvia A. Earle, PhD

Sylvia A. Earle is an oceanographer with a B.S. degree from Florida State University (1955), M.S. and PhD. From Duke University (1956, 1966) and honorary degrees from the Monterey Institute (1990), Ball State University (1991), Washington College (1992), Duke University (1993), Ripon College (1994), University of Connecticut (1994), University of Rhode Island (1996), Plymouth State College (1996), Simmons College (1997), Florida International University (1998), and St. Norbert's College (1998). She was Curator of Phycology at the California Academy of Sciences (1979-1986) and a Research Associate at the University of California Berkeley (1969-1981), Radcliff Institute Scholar (1967-1969) and Research Fellow or Associate at Harvard University (1967-1981). From 1980 to 1984 she served on the President's Advisory Committee on Oceans and Atmosphere (1980-1984). In 1990 she was appointed as Chief Scientist of NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) where she served until 1992. In 1992 she founded Deep Ocean Exploration and Research (D O E R), to design, operate, support and consult on manned and robotic sub sea systems.

Recognized by the Library of Congress as a Living Legend, Dr. Earle is presently Chairman of D O E R and an Explorer in Residence at the National Geographic Society. In addition, she serves as an Honorary President for the Explorers Club, Executive Director for Global Marine Conservation for Conservation International, and Program Coordinator & Advisory Council Chair for the Harte Research Institute for Gulf of Mexico Studies. She is an adjunct scientist at the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI), a director of Kerr-McGee Inc., a director for the Common Heritage Corporation, and serves on various boards, foundations, and committees relating to marine research, policy, and conservation. These include the World Resources Institute, World Environment Center, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute, Duke University Marine Laboratory, Mote Marine Laboratory, Lindbergh Foundation, World Wildlife Fund, Natural Resource Defense Council, and the Ocean Conservancy. She is a Fellow of the AAAS, Marine Technology Society, California Academy of Sciences, and World Academy of Arts and Sciences.

Dr. Earle has led more than 60 expeditions worldwide involving in excess of 7000 hours underwater in connection with her research. From 1998 to 2002 she led the Sustainable Seas Expeditions, a five year program to study the National Marine Sanctuary System sponsored by the National Geographic Society and funded by the Goldman Foundation. An expert on the impact of oil spills, she was called upon to lead several research trips during the Gulf War and following the spills of the ships, Exxon Valdez and Megaborg . She led the first team of women aquanauts during the Tektite Project in 1970 and holds a depth record for solo diving (1000 meters). Author of more than 100 publications concerning marine science and technology including the books Exploring the Deep Frontier, Sea Change (1995), Wild Ocean (1999) and The Atlas of the Ocean (2001), she has participated in numerous television productions and given scientific, technical and general interest lectures in more than 60 countries. Books written for Children include Coral Reefs, Hello Fish, Sea Critters, and the award-winning Dive!

Honors and Awards include: The Wings Trust Award 2003, the Ding Darling Conservation Medal, 1999, the Barbie Ambassador of Dreams, 1999, the John M. Olguin Marine Environment Award, 1997, the Bal de la Mer Foundation Sea Keeper Award 1997, Julius B. Stratton Leadership Award, 1997, Marine Technology Society Compass Award 1997, Kilby Award 1997, Explorers Club Medal 1996, the Lindberg Award 1996, Boston Museum of Science Washburn Medal 1995, Massachusetts Audubon Society's Allen Morgan Prize 1995, Directors Award of the Natural Resources Defense Council 1992, DEMA Hall of Fame Award 1991, Golden Plate Award of the American Academy of Achievement 1991, Radcliff College Alumnae Association Medal 1990, Society of Women Geographers Gold Medal 1990, New England Aquarium's David B. Stone Medal 1989, Order of the Golden Ark by the Prince of the Netherlands 1981, Explorers Club Lowell Thomas Award 1980, Los Angles Times Woman of the Year 1970, and the U.S. Department of Interior Conservation Service Award 1970. In October, 2000, she was inducted to the National Women's Hall of Fame.
She has been profiled for the National Geographic Explorer program (1987), Life Magazine (1987), The New Yorker (1989), New York Times Magazine (1991), Parade Magazine (1991), Tomorrow Magazine (1991), Scientific American (1992), Current Biographies (1972 and 1992), ABC TV 20/20 (1992, 1995), The Charlie Rose show (1993), The Lauren Hutton Show, CBS Sunday Morning (1995), TIME Magazine (1998), CNN (1998), USA Today (1999), People Magazine (2000), Pure Oxygen (2001), Vanity Fair (2002), TLC's Behind Closed Doors with Joan Lunden (2003), and CNN's Seeking Solutions with Suzanne (2003).

Janice V. Meck, Ph.D
.

Dr. Meck is currently Director of Research in Spaceflight Ground-based Analog Models, NASA. The accompanying Curriculum Vitae speaks to her many accomplishments. There are several things, however of particular note-the thirteenth publication on her CV Waters WW, Ziegler MG, Meck, JV. Post-spaceflight orthostatic hypotension occurs mostly in women and is predicted by low vascular resistance. J Applied PhysioJ. 92: 586-594, 2002, indicates her involvement in research that is particularly pertinent to women. This work was done for space flight but has many implications for women here on Earth. Graduate Women in Science twice has reaped the benefit from this research and Dr. Meck's willingness to do community service. She donated her time to come from Texas to be the speaker at Tau Chapter's annual spring meeting in San Diego. She again came to San Diego to be Sigma Delta Epsilon's keynote speaker for our National Meeting in 2005. Both times she explained the implications of her research associated with blood pressure and the effect on women in space. Her information was fascinating.

A second publication indicates the high regard that members of NASA and other entities have for Dr. Meck's work Rossum, AC, Ziegler MG, and Meck JV. Effect of space flight on cardiovascular responses to upright posture in a 77 -year old astronaut. Amer J Cardiology 88: 2001, notes the work she did with John Glenn. space flight, Dr. Meck was able to proceed with her research and publish it so that this information could be used later.