Newswise — News Facts--Dr. Zafra Lerman, distinguished professor and head of the Institute for Science Education and Science Communication at Columbia College Chicago has been selected to receive The U.S. Civilian Research & Development Foundation's (CRDF) George Brown Award for International Science & Technology Collaboration in recognition of her decades-long work engaging and encouraging scientists in the pursuit of peace, cooperation and cultural understanding.--CRDF will present the 2007 George Brown award on October 11 in Washington, DC. Dr. Brian Tucker of the nonprofit organization Geohazards International will also receive the award for his work bringing civil engineering principles to impoverished countries in earthquake-prone areas.--For more than a decade, Dr. Lerman has stimulated human rights awareness in communities of chemists and is the American Chemical Society's leading voice on behalf of the human rights of scientists throughout the world.--Her work has led her to Russia, Cuba, China, many of the former Soviet nations and most recently to the Middle East.--The Israel native has dedicated much of her recent work in the Middle East; beginning with organizing a series of conferences held in Malta titled "Frontiers of Chemical Sciences: Research and Education in the Middle East—A Bridge to Peace," for which she raised funds and attracted sponsors. These conferences were the first time scientists from 12 Middle East countries worked together to identify collaborative solutions to critical regional problems.--In its third year, the CRDF George Brown Award recognizes individuals for their work to promote cross-border science collaboration, in the spirit of the late U.S. Congressman George Brown.
QuotesAll quotes below are attributable to Dr. E. Ann Nalley, 2006 President, American Chemical Society--"In a time when the world's eyes are focused on the Middle East and rhetoric, policy and media reports appear hopeless, Dr. Zafra Lerman offers a fresh approach and constructive solutions to historic problems, ethnic and religious hatred and political dysfunction." --"Where others have given up, Lerman is writing a new narrative that promises real progress with new voices—scientific voices—that have come together to form a new Middle East initiative." --"The role of scientists as promoters of collaborative efforts among chemists internationally is both diplomatic and educational. The potential for combined efforts to improve human lives through chemistry has been, and continues to be, the lifework of Dr. Zafra Lerman."
Media Resources--CRDF has compiled research, statements, articles and background bookmarks on the work of Dr. Lerman: http://del.icio.us/crdf/Zafra_Lerman--More information about Dr. Lerman and the George Brown Award is available at http://www.crdf.org/georgebrown/
About CRDFCRDF is a nonprofit organization authorized by the U.S. Congress and established in 1995 by the National Science Foundation. This unique public-private partnership promotes international scientific and technical collaboration through grants, technical resources, and training.
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