The Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) has awarded a 2011 Einstein Professorship to Donald L. Sparks, the S. Hallock du Pont Professor of Soil and Environmental Chemistry and director of the Delaware Environmental Institute at the University of Delaware.

The honor is presented each year to 20 distinguished scientists from around the world representing a variety of disciplines and actively working at the frontiers of science and technology. Of this year's 20 awardees from the U.S. and Europe, 13 are members of either the U.S. National Academy of Sciences or the National Academy of Engineering.

"This is a wonderful honor,” Sparks said. “I am looking forward to presenting lectures and interacting with colleagues and students at several centers of soil and environmental science and engineering excellence in China.”

The Chinese Academy of Sciences provides funding for each recipient to conduct lecture tours in China as well as for young CAS researchers to visit the recipients in their home laboratories.

Recipients must be nominated by one of the academy's 113 affiliated institutes and are recognized as international leaders in their fields, as measured by awards and prizes, invited lectures, national and international committee memberships, and publications. Sparks was nominated by the CAS Institute of Soil Science in Nanjing, China.

"Don Sparks and members of his laboratory have made many outstanding contributions to soil science over the years, and it is great to see these recognized in the world community,” said Robin Morgan, dean of the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources. “Dr. Sparks is known not just for the results he has obtained, but also for the integrity with which he has conducted science and trained young professionals.”

(Source: University of Delaware)