BAE faculty receive honors

Five faculty members in the Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering at North Carolina State University were honored by professional societies recently.

Dr. Robert Evans, department head, was honored by the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers (ASABE) with its Hancor Soil and Water Engineering Award, which is given in recognition of noteworthy contributions to the advancement of soil and water engineering. He was recognized for research, teaching and extension programs that focus on water management, wetland restoration and water quality. Evans’ water-quality research and extension initiatives have resulted in the implementation of controlled drainage practices across Eastern North Carolina, increasing net farm income and decreasing unwanted agricultural nitrogen in surface waters.

The ASABE gave Dr. Wayne Skaggs, William Neal Reynolds Professor and Distinguished University Professor, its 2009 Massey-Ferguson Educational Gold Medal Award. The award acknowledges the advancement of agricultural engineering knowledge and practice. Skaggs pioneered the development of the first simulation model, called DRAINMOD, to predict drainage and related water management performance as well as the effect of water management on crop yield. Skaggs has also served as major professor for 24 masters and 40 doctoral students and as a drainage and water management consultant to numerous state and federal agencies and foreign governments. Skaggs was honored with the Charles A. Black Communications Award by The Council for Agricultural Science and Technology (CAST) for his achievements.

Dr. Ronald Sneed, professor emeritus, was honored with the ASABE Heermann Sprinkler Irrigation Award, which recognizes contributions to the improvement of efficient and effective sprinkler irrigation. Sneed has been involved in the irrigation industry for 49 years, 32 of which he spent in the Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering. He is an active member of the Irrigation Association and Irrigation Association Education Foundation and was recently named chair of the North Carolina Irrigation Licensing Board.

Dr. Larry Stikeleather, professor, was named an ASABE Fellow in recognition of his work on machine design and machine-operator interaction. His work has earned 11 patents on topics such as active vibration control for tractor and construction machinery seat suspensions, rapid extraction methods for bioactive compounds from plant material and biofuels conversion processes. He is now working on developing processes to convert renewable oils and fats to biofuels.

Dr. Gary T Roberson, associate professor and extension specialist, received the North American Colleges and Teachers of Agriculture Teacher Fellow Award at the group’s Annual Conference in June.

Note: This story was adapted from the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences announcement .