Klepzig Receives A.D. Hopkins Award
August 1, 2012
Charlottesville, VA — Dr. Kier Klepzig, Southern Research Station (SRS) Assistant Director is the recipient of the A.D. Hopkins Award, which is presented to individuals who have an outstanding record of service to Southern forest entomology. Klepzig received the award from the Southern Forest Insect Work Conference at the group's annual meeting, held this year in Charlottesville, VA, July 24-27.
A. D. Hopkins is widely regarded as "the father of forest entomology" in the United States. Much of Klepzig's research has centered on bark beetles, as did Hopkins's work. Klepzig has written or co-written numerous articles and books concerning the southern pine beetle, which is recognized as one of the most economically damaging insects in the South and other regions of the United States.
As is customary for each award recipient, Klepzig gave the A.D. Hopkins Award address at the conference. Klepzig presentation, "I couldn't have done it without you: Mutualism in research and life," was a serious and humorous snapshot of his research and a look at the people who have had an impact or assisted him in life.
Awarded since 1983, the A.D. Hopkins Award is only given in years when five of seven members agree on the recipient. Past recipients include SRS research entomologist Jim Hanula (2008) and emeritus SRS scientists John Moser (1999), Peter Lorio (1993), James Solomon (1992), Gary DeBarr (1990), and Robert Thatcher (1987).