The Kentucky Academy of Sciences has honored Dr. Ralph Thompson, Professor of Biology, with this year’s “Outstanding College/University Teaching Award”. The award was presented during the 2002 Annual Meeting of the Kentucky Academy of Sciences at Northern Kentucky University.

The award is given to individuals who have demonstrated significant contributions to science teaching and research at the college/university level in Kentucky, and to the intellectual growth in the Commonwealth.

Thompson, Professor of Biology at Berea since 1994, and curator of the Berea College Herbarium since 1980, has received funding for 15 undergraduate research projects and published 51 articles and abstracts during his career. Recent research includes a project to study the flora and vegetation of drastically disturbed lands and natural areas of Kentucky.

As a full member of Sigma Xi, the Scientific Research Society, since 1979, Thompson has served as Visiting Professor of Biological Sciences at Murray State University for the past 5 summers where he taught a field course in Botany.

Thompson’s other accolades include the Seabury Award for Excellence in Teaching (Berea College’s highest faculty award) in 1993, and the Outstanding Teacher of the Year Award from Myrtle Point Public Schools in 1977.

Thompson earned his M.A. in Biology from Southwest Missouri State University in 1975, and his Ph.D. in Botany from Southern Illinois University in 1980.