UF Faculty Members Named AAAS Fellows For Scientific Work

October 25, 2000

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Three University of Florida faculty members have been named fellows of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, or AAAS, for their academic research and pursuits.
The recipients are:

Dr. Kenneth I. Berns, vice president for health affairs and College of Medicine dean — For fundamental studies with parvoviruses that have led to new insights into DNA replication and have been essential to the development of adenovirus-associated virus as a vector for gene expression in humans.

Alan R. Katritzky, professor, department of chemistry — For studies of chemical reactivity and its application to synthetic methodology and for chemical structure-property relations.

Leslie Sue Lieberman, associate professor, department of anthropology — For distinguished leadership in scientific organizations, including the presidencies of the University of Florida chapter of Sigma Xi, the Council on Nutritional Anthropology and the National Association of Academies of Science.

“This is excellent news and a tribute to these faculty and their research and academic careers. The university is delighted for them and pleased that they are members of our faculty,” said UF Provost David Colburn.

New fellows will receive an official certificate and a gold and blue pin at the 2001 AAAS annual meeting in San Francisco on Feb. 17.

At least 26 other UF faculty members have been named AAAS Fellows in previous years. The distinction of fellow was awarded to a total of 251 AAAS members this year. It is given in recognition of efforts toward advancing science or fostering applications that are deemed scientifically or socially distinguished. Members can be considered for the rank of fellow if nominated by the AAAS steering group of their respective sections, by three fellows or by the association’s executive office. The AAAS Council votes on the final aggregate list.

Founded in 1848, the AAAS represents the world’s largest federation of scientists. Its goal is to advance science for human well-being through its projects, programs and publications. AAAS publishes the prestigious peer-reviewed journal Science.