CVM Professor Honored with Bush Excellence Award for Faculty in Public Service

CVM Professor Honored with Bush Excellence Award for Faculty in Public Service
Dr. Barbara Gastel, a professor in the Department of Veterinary Integrative Biosciences (VIBS)

COLLEGE STATION, Texas – Dr. Barbara Gastel, a professor in the Department of Veterinary Integrative Biosciences (VIBS) at the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences (CVM) was honored last night with the Bush Excellence Award for Faculty in Public Service.

 

The Bush Excellence Award for Faculty in Public Service is given annually by the Bush Presidential Library Foundation to recognize a Texas A&M University faculty member who makes outstanding contributions to public service, defined as a sustained long-term application of a faculty member’s disciplinary expertise to the public or non-profit sector in local, state, national, or international arenas.

“Dr. Gastel is contributing a unique public service through national and international outreach and professional development in science communication,” said Dr. Evelyn Tiffany-Castiglioni, department head of VIBS. “She has accomplished more in the realm of science communication that supports global scientific literacy than nearly any other person.”

Gastel has pioneered programs that teach science writing and editing to researchers and medical professionals in China, Mexico, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Rwanda, Ghana, and other developing and emerging countries. One of these programs was the China Medical Board Program in Biomedical Writing (1996-2007). Gastel co-led this project, which included yearly delivery of a two-semester course in biomedical writing at multiple leading health science centers in Asia, throughout its duration. Also, since its inception in 2007, she has been a member of the leadership team of AuthorAID, a project to help researchers in developing countries to write about and publish their work. For the past seven summers, Gastel has also given an intensive three-week course at the CVM in research writing, mainly for researchers from Mexico and other countries.

“When Dr. Gastel arrived at our college, she brought with her an international reputation for science and technology journalism,” said Dr. Eleanor M. Green, the Carl B. King Dean of Veterinary Medicine. “As part of our faculty, she offers us the opportunity to provide unique educational experiences to all students. We are so proud that she is being recognized with this prestigious award for her support of excellence in science writing.”

“Public service through promoting effective science communication has long been a major part of my activity as a faculty member,” Gastel said. “Having completed more than a quarter century of such service, I am happy to be observing its long-term impact and especially to be seeing the impact amplified by those I have mentored or trained. Although such service is its own reward, I am honored to win the Bush Excellence Award for Faculty in Public Service.”

Photo caption: Dr. Barbara Gastel (second from left), who won the Bush Excellence Award for Faculty in Public Service, with (from left) Dr. Mark Hussey, Texas A&M University interim president; Dr. Evelyn Tiffany-Castiglioni; Dr. Linda Logan, head of international programs at the CVM; and Fred McClure, the Chief Executive Officer of the George Bush Presidential Library Foundation


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