Top isle scientists
honored for work

Professors at UH and Chaminade are named
the top scientists and educators in Hawaii

A biological oceanographer, forensic scientist and botanist have received the Hawaii Academy of Science's 2005 distinguished scientist awards.

David Karl, University of Hawaii-Manoa professor of oceanography, was recognized with the Distinguished Research Scientist Award.

Madison Lee Goff, Chaminade University professor and chairman of forensic science, and Gerald Carr, recently retired University of Hawaii professor of botany, received Distinguished Science Educator Awards.

This is the fourth year the Hawaii Academy of Science has presented awards recognizing outstanding science in Hawaii.

A world leader in microbial oceanography and a recipient of many prestigious awards, Karl's work has unified studies of microbiology, ocean circulation and global geochemical cycling, changing understanding of the oceanic carbon cycle and measurements of microbe populations in the oceans.

He is principal investigator of the Hawaiian Ocean Time Series project, which has provided a continuous record of waters at a site off Oahu called Station Aloha for 18 years, as well as leading other research programs.

He has published nearly 250 peer-reviewed scholarly works and brought millions of dollars to Hawaii for research.

Goff, whose award is sponsored by Pioneer Hi-Bred, is known nationally for his teaching and research in entomology and forensic science. He has served as entomology consultant for the CSI (Crime Scene Investigation) episodes on CBS.

He has held positions at the Bishop Museum, Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, UH and Chaminade, teaching courses and conducting research in acarology, general, systematic and medical veterinary entomology.

He has shown that the human corpse is an ecosystem for insects, mites, spiders and other arthropods, providing critical information for law enforcement agencies. He is author of the book "A Fly for the Prosecution," which has been translated to Japanese and Spanish.

Carr was recognized for 30 years of research and education on Hawaiian botany, raising awareness and appreciation for Hawaii's biodiversity and conservation of species.

He was an exemplary teacher and mentor to university students and the public through lectures, training sessions, "legendary" field trips and illustrative photography, the academy said.

His award-winning Web sites document hundreds of native species, serving as an invaluable resource for K-12 schools, community colleges, universities, private and state organizations.

His work on Hawaiian Silverswords provided a template for other botanists to coordinate morphology, evolution, ecology, chromosome observation and DNA sequencing of other Hawaiian endemic groups.