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Environmental Scientist First Hire under
Provost’s Initiative
By
Carol L. Spence
 LEXINGTON,
Ky., (Nov. 14, 2007) – An eminent soil scientist from the
University of Georgia will join the faculty of University of
Kentucky College of Agriculture. Paul M. Bertsch, hired into the
position of environmental chemist, is the college’s first hire
under the provost’s initiative to recruit world-class scientists
to the university.
University Provost Kumble Subbaswamy said that UK’s plan to
become one of the top 20 public research universities depends on
the university’s ability to recruit and retain outstanding
scientists and scholars.
“People like Dr. Bertsch help catalyze UK’s research
enterprise,” he said.
Bertsch will base out of the Department of Plant and Soil
Sciences and lead a university-wide environmental initiative
planning process. He brings fellow scientists, Jason Unrine and
Olga Tsyusko with him to the department, as well as a third, who
will join the College of Arts and Sciences.
“UK already has aspects of environmental science research and
education going on in different colleges and centers,”
Subbaswamy said. “With his extensive experience in building and
leading interdisciplinary programs in environmental science, Dr.
Bertsch will be able to build on these efforts to reach
nationally competitive levels in this area of critical
importance to Kentucky.”
The College of Agriculture is one of the colleges that recognize
the importance of environmental research and education. Dean
Scott Smith sees the hiring of Bertsch as fitting in with the
college’s strategic goal of being a leader in environmental
sciences.
“As the College of Agriculture moves aggressively to advance our
work on management of natural resources, Paul Bertsch will
provide a focal point for faculty leadership of those efforts,”
he said. “His hire will complement and grow the programs of the
Tracy Farmer Center for the Environment. We will be delighted if
this high profile hire in our college also catalyzes progress in
environmental sciences across the campus.”
“It is an area that the college already has a good bit of
strength in, and this could take us to another level,” said
Nancy Cox, associate dean of research in the College of
Agriculture and chair of the original provost’s initiative
committee that conceived of the idea to recruit renowned
scientists to the university.
Bertsch is recognized nationally and internationally for his
research contributions which include the development of novel,
minimally invasive recovery strategies for contaminated sites.
At the University of Georgia, he is the Georgia Power Professor
of Environmental and Soil Chemistry and the former director of
the Savannah River Ecology Laboratory. He has published more
than 150 articles in environmental chemistry, biogeochemistry,
toxicology and soil physical chemistry and mineralogy. He
recently served on three National Academy of Sciences committees
dealing with issues in earth and environmental sciences and
currently chairs the U.S. National Committee for Soil Science at
the NAS. He is a fellow of the American Society of Agronomy and
the Soil Science Society of America, of which he is currently
president, and has received numerous awards for his research,
including two career achievement awards.
Plant and Soil Sciences Chair Michael Barrett said he is excited
about the addition to the department of someone of Dr. Bertsch’s
stature; an addition that he expects will greatly enhance the
graduate training program.
“His appointment raised the department’s national reputation
immediately,” Barrett said. “However, what is really exciting
about Dr. Bertsch coming to Kentucky is that this signifies a
new commitment to elevate environmental sciences at the
university. Dr. Bertsch is recognized for his ability to
assemble collaborative teams across departments, colleges and
even universities, to address environmental research issues.
This is what is needed to address these broad issues, and he is
already doing this at Kentucky.”
Bertsch will begin his tenure at UK March 1, 2008.
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Contact: M. Scott Smith, 859-257-4772
Michael Barrett, 859-257- 5020, ext. 80709
Nancy Cox, 859-257-3333
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The UK College of Agriculture,
through its land-grant mission, reaches across the commonwealth
with teaching, research and extension
to enhance the lives of
Kentuckians. |
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