Two
Michigan Technological University professors have been presented with the university's 2012 Research Award.
Robert Nemiroff, a professor of physics, specializes in astrophysics and may be best known for his collaboration with NASA scientist Jerry Bonnell, science photo blog "Astronomy Picture of the Day." It was one of the earliest such sites, having been started in 1995.
"Some people in the astronomical community think that's all I do," said Nemiroff, adding with a smile, "It's good to get a Research Award to show that I'm a real scientist."
He certainly is, as the work he's being honored for shows. Nemiroff has spent years examining the idea that gamma-ray bursts (high-energy explosions occurring on a universal scale) originated beyond our galaxy, in the deep cosmos, rather than closer to home. His theories have now become widely accepted on the subject, and his current research has continued to focus on properties of gamma-ray bursts, using them to study dark matter, among other things.
The second honoree is Andrew Storer, of the university's forestry department. An entomologist, Storer is best known for his research on the spread and management of the emerald ash borer, which has helped the Michigan Department of Natural Resources and the U.S. Forest Service.
"Without the research results provided by Dr. Storer, our ability to cope with the emerald ash borer outbreak in the Lake States would have been severely compromised," says Joseph G. O'Brien, a plant pathologist with the U.S. Forest Service's Northern Research Station.
While the emerald ash borer remains a focus for Storer, he also is researching beech bark disease in Michigan and sugar maple dieback in the western U.P., both of which have impact on long-term forest management.
Writer: Sam Eggleston
Source: Michigan Technological University
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