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.”
Gastel’s previous prestigious honors include the 2012 Texas
A&M Association of Former Students Award in Extension,
Outreach, Continuing Education & Professional Development
and the 2010 John P. McGovern Science and Society Award,
which is given by the international research society Sigma Xi. The
McGovern Award recognizes individuals who are prominent
spokespersons for the public understanding and appreciation of
science, and other past winners include Condoleezza Rice and Norman
E. Borlaug.
“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.”
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For more information about the Texas A&M College of
Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, please visit our
website at vetmed.tamu.edu or join us on Facebook.
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
Contact Information:
Megan Palsa
or
Angela G. Clendenin
Executive Director of Communications, Media and Public
Relations
Communications Manager
mpalsa@cvm.tamu.edu
aclendenin@cvm.tamu.edu
979-862-4216
979-862-2675
979-421-3121 (cell)
979-739-5718 (cell)