Contact: Haven Miller and Carl Nathe

The award is named for Aldo Leopold, a renowned environmental scientist who communicated his scientific knowledge simply and eloquently. His1949 book, “A Sand County Almanac,” is credited with helping infuse the conservation movement with good science and a stewardship ethic.

LEXINGTON, Ky. (March 15, 2004) -- David Maehr, associate professor in the University of Kentucky College of Agriculture Department of Forestry, was selected as an Aldo Leopold Fellow for 2004. He is one of only 20 academic environmental scientists from throughout the United States and Guam receiving the award.

The Fellows are selected through a competitive application process. They have outstanding scientific qualifications, demonstrated leadership ability, and a strong interest in communicating science beyond traditional academic audiences.

Aldo Leopold Leadership Fellowships provide scientists with intensive communications and leadership training to help them communicate scientific information to non-scientific audiences, especially policy makers, the media, business leaders and the public.

The award is named for Aldo Leopold, a renowned environmental scientist who communicated his scientific knowledge simply and eloquently. His1949 book, “A Sand County Almanac,” is credited with helping infuse the conservation movement with good science and a stewardship ethic.

Maehr currently is working to restore elk and black bear populations in Kentucky. His research uses satellite and radio telemetry technologies on elk, and Global Positioning Systems technology, standard radio telemetry, and Geographical Information Systems simulations in the black bear project.

He also is involved in researching the habitat needs of non-game wildlife, as well as vertebrate colonization, plant succession, and landscape structure in the restoration of Kentucky’s mined lands.