Biosystems and agricultural faculty recognized at annual ASABE meeting

Friday, September 16, 2016

(STILLWATER, Okla., September 16, 2016) – Several biosystems and agricultural engineering (BAE) faculty received awards and recognition at this year’s American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers (ASABE) meeting, held in Orlando, Florida.

“The awards indicate that the bedrock of the department, the faculty, are strongly committed to making outstanding contributions to the field, says John Veenstra, interim department head of BAE.

Mike Smolen, BAE emeritus professor, was inducted as a fellow, along with Randy Raper, assistant director of the statewide Oklahoma Agricultural Experiment Station system.

Mike Buser, BAE associate professor, received the Mayfield Cotton Engineering award while Ajay Kumar, also a BAE associate professor, received the Rainbird Concept of the Year award.

BAE professors Garey Fox, Dan Storm as well as BAE alumnus Derek Heeren received an ASABE Superior Paper award for their work titled, Heterogeneity of Infiltration Rates in Alluvial Floodplains as Measured with a Berm Infiltration Technique, published in Transactions of the ASABE. BAE professor Mark Wilkins also received an ASABE Superior Paper award for his work titled, Ethanol Production from Sugarcane Bagasse Using SSF Process and Thermotolerant Yeast, published in Transactions of the ASABE.

Jason Vogel, BAE associate professor, was recognized as one of the major contributors for updating mapping symbols and nomenclature for erosion and sediment control plans for land disturbing activities. He received a Standard Development award for his contributions.

In addition, a couple of doctorate BAE alumni also received awards at the annual ASABE meeting. Danny Rogers took home the G. B. Gungloson Countyside Engineering award and Daren Harmel received the ADS Hancor Soil and Water Engineering award, as well as an ASABE Superior Paper award.

“Some of the best advertising for the success of our department comes in the form of recognition of the accomplishments of our alumni,” says Veenstra. “We are especially proud of the recognition ASABE has bestowed upon faculty members and alumni of the BAE department at OSU for their notable accomplishments and outstanding contributions to the scientific community.”

RELEASE CONTACT: Chelsea Robinson | CEAT Marketing | 405-744-5831 | Chelsea.l.robinson@okstate.edu

Oklahoma State University is a modern land-grant university that prepares students for success. OSU has more than 36,000 students across its five-campus system and more than 25,000 on its combined Stillwater and Tulsa campuses, with students from all 50 states and around 120 nations. Established in 1890, Oklahoma State has graduated more than 260,000 students who have been serving Oklahoma and the world for 125 years.