NEWS RELEASE
October 16, 2006
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:

Brian Hyps
Phone (301)251-0560 ext. 114
Fax (301) 279-2996
Email bhyps@aspb.org

Harvey Mudd College Professor Williams Appointed Chair of American Society of Plant Biologists Education Committee

ROCKVILLE, MD - October 24 2006: Harvey Mudd College Professor Mary Williams has been appointed Chair of the American Society of Plant Biologists (ASPB) Education Committee. Dr. Williams, an associate professor of biology, has been appointed for a second term, which began October 1, 2006.

"No teacher or textbook will ever substitute for experiential learning," said Williams. "This freedom is mostly gone from elementary education, so it's not surprising that American kids aren't interested in science. ASPB is trying to help bring inquiry back into science education."

Williams' innovative curriculum ideas have won her more than $1.6 million in grants from the National Science Foundation, including the Optical Science and Engineering Award and the Faculty Early Career Development Award. She has been a judge for the California State Science Fair for 10 years and is a scientific contributor to the Botanical Society of America's Scientific Inquiry Through Plants program, which provides online projects and dialogue between students and plant scientists.

In addition to serving as an editor and writer for ASPB's Education Forum column, she has been a reviewer for the Society's journals, The Plant Cell and Plant Physiology. She was first appointed to the Education Committee in 2002.

"I had no hesitation reappointing Mary as chair of the education committee. Her experience, creativity, and dedication are unparalleled," said ASPB President Rick Amasino. "We are privileged to have her."

ASPB is a non-profit science society of 5,000 members from the U.S. and nearly 60 other nations. The Society publishes two of the most frequently cited plant science journals: The Plant Cell and Plant Physiology. ASPB, founded in 1924, is headquartered in Rockville, Maryland.

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