VIMS Professor Receives Odum Award
The Coastal and Estuarine Research Federation (CERF) honored Dr. Iris Anderson, a professor at the Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS), with the Odum Award for her contributions to estuarine and coastal ecosystem research. The Scientific Awards Committee note that Anderson “stands out as a trailblazer and leader in the fields of shallow-water estuarine and coastal ecosystem biogeochemistry and ecology, outstanding mentor and role model, very appropriately filling the mold of the Odum family legacy.”
Dr. Iris Anderson, Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS)
Highlighting her several accomplishments in research, teaching, outreach, and mentorship, the committee also emphasized the challenges Anderson overcame in her non-traditional career pathway, noting “Iris’ career serves as a strong reminder to the CERF community that scientific excellence can be enhanced and informed by non-linear trajectories.” Anderson was the only woman in her PhD program and after pausing her education to raise a family, she found a passageway back to gaining her doctorate and has since amassed an impressive record of professional achievements.
In addition to the Odum Award, Anderson has also received numerous other honors, including the VIMS Lifetime Achievement Award (2015), a William and Mary Plumeri Award (2012), and the Dean’s Prize for the Advancement of Women in Marine Science (2003).
The Odum Award is named after the three outstanding ecologists in the Odum family: Dr. Howard T. Odum; Dr. Eugene P. Odum; and Dr. William E. Odum, III. The award recognizes the lifetime achievements of an outstanding estuarine scientist whose sustained accomplishments have made important contributions to human understanding of estuaries and coastal ecosystems. Previous winners of the Odum award include: James Cloern, USGS (2017); Joy Zedler, University of Wisconsin (2015); Ivan Valiela, Marine Biological Laboratory (2013); and more.
Read the full article on the CERF website.