A&M Corpus Christi hosts the 111th Annual Meeting of the Texas Academy of Science

The 111th Annual Meeting of the Texas Academy of Science (TAS) was held March 6-8, 2008 at Texas A&M University - Corpus Christi. This year’s meeting crossed borders as scientists from Mexico participated to strengthen collaboration between the two nations. With over 550 participants it was the largest TAS meeting ever held, and more than 350 abstracts were accepted for oral and poster presentations.

The origins of the Texas Academy of Science can be traced back to the 19th century. Founded in 1892, TAS is one of the oldest science organizations in the state of Texas. Each year the Academy recommends members to be made Fellows of the Academy, awards the honor of "Distinguished Texas Scientist", hands out distinctions for outstanding service to the Academy, recognizes the “Outstanding Texas Educator”, and gives other awards as deemed appropriate. The “2008 Distinguished Scientist” was given to Dr. Ernest L. Lundelius Jr., and Carolyn Kelley Barnes was named the “2008 Outstanding Educator”.

The 2008 TAS meeting featured sections in Anthropology, Biological Sciences, Botany, Chemistry, Computer Science, Conservation & Management, Environmental Science, Freshwater & Marine Science, Geography, Geology, Mathematics, Physics, Science Education, Systematics & Evolutionary Biology, and Terrestrial Ecology. A special symposium titled “Exploration of Estuarine Linkages: A symposium on physical, chemical and biological connections on the coastal fringe” was conducted during the meeting.

Each year the Texas Academy of Science supports student research through grants. In the Student Research Award Competition the TAS Board of Directors, encouraged by the increased student interest in the competition, allocated $10,000 for the competition. Ph.D., M.S., and B.S. students were awarded. At least $3,000 in awards was designated for each level.

In addition, student participation at the annual meeting provides a means for students to present their research and engage in friendly competition for the best oral and poster presentation. The Academy also provides Travel Awards for deserving students that were presenting at the annual meeting. The next meeting of the Texas Academy of Science will be hosted by Texas Tech University at their field station in Junction, TX. For information, please visit www.texasacademyofscience.org.

- Dr. Roy Lehman & Will Piatt