From Penn State Berks
The Crop Science Society of America (CSSA) recently announced that Michael A. Fidanza, professor of horticulture at Penn State Berks, has been honored with the Fred V. Grau Turfgrass Science Award. The annual awards are presented for outstanding contributions to crop science through education, national and international service, and research.
Fidanza teaches undergraduate courses in turfgrass science, soil science, botany, plant biology, and pesticide education, as well as a graduate course in turfgrass physiology. He conducts research in turfgrass ecology, turfgrass integrated pest management with an emphasis on diseases and weeds, plant health and soil ecology, seed germination biology and ecology, evaluation of mushroom compost for agricultural crops and ornamental horticulture, the biology and management of fairy ring in turfgrass ecosystems, soil surfactants and the rhizosphere, and teaching and learning technology.
In addition, he has served as the editor of ‘Achieving Sustainable Turfgrass Management’ (Burleigh Dodds Sci. Publ.), and as editor-in-chief of the ‘International Turfgrass Society Research Journal.’ He was also president of the Northeastern Branch ASA-CSSA-SSSA from 2013-2017 and is a Fellow of the American Society of Agronomy.
The Fred V. Grau Turfgrass Science Award is presented in recognition of significant career contributions in turfgrass science during the most recent 15 years. It is based on the significance and originality of basic and/or applied research, teaching ability and effectiveness, planning and implementation of extension programs, development and implementation of significant industrial programs, administrative ability and effectiveness, and total impact of contributions on turfgrass science, nationally and internationally.
