TAINAN, Taiwan--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dr. Barbara Anna Schaal, vice president of United States National Academy of Sciences and a biology professor at Washington University, received an honorary doctoral degree from National Cheng Kung University (NCKU), Tainan, southern Taiwan on Nov. 15.
The honorary degree was conferred on Schaal in recognition of her contributions to molecular evolution, genetics of plants, educational achievements as well as her excellent personality.
Upon receiving the degree from Hwung-Hweng Hwung, president of National Cheng Kung University, Dr. Barbara Anna Schaal expressed her appreciation and praised the university’s efforts at advocating conservation biology.
“It’s an honor for me to receive the degree and a great pleasure to meet my first Taiwanese student, Tzen-Yuh Chiang, here at NCKU,” said Schaal. Chiang attended her class back in early 1990s, and is now NCKU professor of life sciences.
“NCKU Museum’s ‘Eco-NCKU – A City Green Island’ exhibition is an excellent example of the university’s endeavors to promote conservation biology. The exhibition has attracted a large crowd of students and citizens to observe over 30 kinds of birds, butterflies and insects.”
Hwung said that Dr. Schaal’s achievements in preserving nature are admirable. He said, “Her contributions to environmental and biodiversity issues are just another reminder to prepare students with natural environment knowledge and human concern.”
Dr. Peter Hamilton Raven, a leading botanist and a previous recipient of the honorary degree who was present at the ceremony, used the phrase “generous in thought, word and deed” to describe Schaal.
“She has been my fellow at Washington University for 31 years,” said Raven. “Valuing and supporting others’ contributions to earth, she’s definitely a wonderful colleague and friend to have.”
Barbara Anna Schaal, born in Berlin in 1936, is the first woman to be elected vice president of the National Academy of Sciences and one of the most prominent advocates for nature conservation and biodiversity.
Best known for her work on the evolutionary genetics of plant sciences, Dr. Schaal serves on the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology in the United States.