| |
Bezdicek
Retires after 31 Years at WSU
 STEEP's
principal investigator and administrator for the last 5 years, Dr.
David Bezdicek, retired in September 2004.
A soil microbiologist, Dave's dedication to team research and outreach
spanned three decades at WSU. Dave has authored more than 55 refereed
journal publications, 32 book chapters, and 18 proceedings. He is
recognized by peers as a Fellow in the Soil Science Society of America
and the American Society of Agronomy. He has served as Division
Chair for the Soil Science Society of America, and as Associate
Editor of the Agronomy Journal. His expertise in soil microbiology
and environmental microbiology has been recognized through requested
participation in many national and international research panels
for USDA, NSF, BRD, NSERC-Canada, Smithsonian Institution, and EPA.
As a principal investigator, he has received more than $5.4 million
in grant funds, and as collaborator, more than $3 million for WSU.
Dave has provided national and international leadership in recognizing
the role of soil quality and soil biology in the Conservation Reserve
Program and no-till agriculture. His efforts at the national level
and in PNW research have drawn attention to the significance of
no-till agriculture in sequestering atmospheric carbon and reducing
the potential for global warming. Throughout his leadership as a
scientist, administrator, and PI for the highly successful PNW Solutions
to Environmental and Economic Problems (STEEP) program, he has worked
tirelessly to promote diverse cropping systems and reduced tillage
for cutting soil and water erosion and for sequestration of atmospheric
carbon.
Dave was the first director of WSU's Center for Sustaining Agriculture
and Natural Resources (CSANR). As director he promoted research
and education on improved soil quality, better communication between
agriculture and urban stakeholders, use of alternative crops, and
the acceptance of sustainability as part of WSU's institutional
goals. He also was instrumental in establishing WSU's composting
facility. Dave received the outstanding Faculty Excellence in Research
award in WSU's College of Agricultural, Human, and Natural Resource
Sciences (CAHNRS) in 2004.
Dave also has been active in WSU's teaching program. He established
courses in soil microbiology and composting, and led the effort
to place multi-media equipment into classrooms in the Department
of Crop and Soil Sciences. More than 25 graduate students have completed
advanced degrees in Soil Science under his direction.
Dave is well known in the WSU community for his musical talent,
playing fiddle and guitar. He and his group, Loose on the Palouse,
are often sought for gigs around campus, especially within CAHNRS.
Not surprising, he and the band played at Dave's retirement party.
|
|
