Dvorak receives Norman E. Borlaug Award for Service to Society and the Environment

Media Contact:  Tilla Fearn, NC State College of Natural Resources, (919) 513-4644

October 6, 2008

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

A professor of forestry & environmental resources in the NC State University College of Natural Resources has been honored with the 2008 Norman E. Borlaug Award for Service to Society and the Environment for his dedication and innovation in bringing together industry, government and university researchers to successfully domesticate and conserve tree species around the world.

The winner, Dr. William Dvorak, is the Director of Camcore - the largest international tree conservation partnership in the world.

Named in honor of the 1970 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate, Dr Norman E. Borlaug, the Borlaug Award for Service to Society and the Environment is presented annually to an NC State faculty member in recognition of exemplary service to the environment and society through any mechanism of scholarly work which has contributed directly or indirectly to the improvement of the human and natural world condition. The award is presented jointly by the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and the College of Natural Resources.  Previous winners are Dr. Paul Mueller and Dr. Steve McKeand.  Dr. Dvorak is the 3rd recipient of this prestigious award.

Dvorak is Camcore’s first director and has held that position for 28 years; playing key roles as a scholar and diplomat to extend success of this program to 31 organizations in 22 countries on five continents.  He describes himself as an international extension agent providing technical advice to foresters in developing countries, and working to sustain natural resources. 

Dvorak teaches courses on international forestry, and advises graduate students from around the world.  His work continues to build an incredible legacy and reputation for NC State University and continues to have a profound and lasting impact on people and environments.

Dvorak earned his B.S. in forestry from Michigan State University in 1974, and his M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in forestry and forest genetics at NC State University and served as a U.S. Peace Corps Volunteer in the South Pacific.

About Camcore

Camcore is a unique partnership between NC State University and numerous forest industries and agencies, and related organizations that have come together in an international program that works for the conservation of tropical and subtropical forest tree species, especially pines, some eucalyptus and gmelina species, and the eastern North American hemlocks. Camcore works with industry and agency partners to identify threatened species and collect seeds from them for use in conservation and growth studies, assessing genetic diversity to improve methods of conservation, evaluating the adaptability of trees to new locations and developing long-term improvement programs for ensuring the sustainability of tree resources for generations to come. 

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Learn about the annual Norman E. Borlaug Lecture