Clemson biology professor wins state award for excellence in science

Published: April 22, 2010

Barbara Speziale image by: Clemson University

CLEMSON — Clemson University biology professor Barbara Speziale was awarded the 2010 Governor’s Award for Excellence in Scientific Awareness at the annual meeting of the South Carolina Academy of Science.

Speziale received the award for her contributions to state science education and outreach for K-12 students, K-12 teachers, undergraduate students and the public. Speziale is associate dean for undergraduate studies at Clemson and a professor in the biological sciences department in the College of Agriculture, Forestry and Life Sciences.

The award, presented Saturday in Charleston, is sponsored by the South Carolina Academy of Science and the Governor’s Office and is given annually along with an award for scientific research and an award to a gifted young researcher.

Speziale has received numerous awards for her educational programs, including the Outstanding Achievement Award in 2005 from the Renewable Natural Resources Foundation and the Menzie-Curie Environmental Education Award in 2004 from the Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry.

Speziale is an ambassador for diversity in education with an interest in providing opportunities for people from underserved populations to explore science. Under her leadership, thousands of middle and high school students from low-income school districts have participated in science experiences on the Clemson University campus since 1995.

In 2005, with funding from the National Science Foundation, she created the FIRST program to assist students who are the first in their families to attend college. Her work in promoting diversity was recognized by Clemson in 2008 with the Martin Luther King Jr. Award for Excellence in Service. Her programs to increase scientific research and awareness have been supported with more than $11 million in external grants.

With funding from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Speziale developed the South Carolina Life (SC LIFE) program, using natural history to spur interest in science. Since 1998, the program has produced life science courses, programs and activities for more than 4,000 pre-college students, 1,800 K-12 teachers and supported 500 undergraduate student research projects. She also established the South Carolina DNA Learning Center to provide molecular biology education to children and adults.

The Howard Hughes Medical Institute has supported SC LIFE with more than $5 million in awards.

In a recent visit to Clemson, David Asai, director of the institute’s Precollege and Undergraduate Science Education Program, emphasized the importance of having science education programs like SC LIFE at leading research universities. “The future of the country depends on it,” he said.

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