John L. Koprowski elected Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science

SNRE Professor John L. Koprowski has been elected a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, which at more than 120,000 members is the world?s largest general scientific society. New Fellows were inducted on 17 February 2018 at the annual AAAS meeting in Austin, Texas and were presented with a certificate and the traditional gold and blue rosette pin (colors represent science and engineering, respectively).

John is a Professor of Wildlife & Fisheries Science and Associate Director of the School of Natural Resources & the Environment. He teaches undergraduate courses in animal behavior and wildlife conservation and has mentored more than 45 graduate students. His research program focuses on the ecology and conservation of rare vertebrates with a particular emphasis on behavioral and population responses to disturbance in taxa as diverse as rodents, carnivores, ungulates, dolphins, snakes and salamanders.

?Little is more humbling than recognition from one?s peers that our efforts are considered to be valuable contributions? Koprowski said ?As a first generation college student, the opportunity to practice science was a dream developed through family fishing trips, watching squirrels out the window in elementary school and catching toads in the urban parks of Cleveland, Ohio. I am fortunate to have the opportunity to continue to pursue such passions to conserve biodiversity and share them with students as a career.?

The AAAS Section on Biological Sciences selected Koprowski because of his "distinguished contributions to biology, particularly conservation and ecology of mammals." AAAS members elect Fellows based upon their scientifically or socially distinguished efforts to advance science or its application.

Koprowski serves as Director of the Mt. Graham Biology Program that has emphasized the conservation of the federally endangered Mt. Graham red squirrel by building collaborations between state and federal agencies, non-government organizations and academic scientists. Now the rarest mammal with a breeding population in the United States, Mt. Graham red squirrels will require the collective efforts of many to persist.

John values international collaboration and his research group works in the United States, Mexico, Peru, Colombia, Nepal, China and South Africa. He has authored >135 peer-reviewed scientific articles on animal behavior, conservation, disturbance and ecology of vertebrates, 30 book and proceedings chapters, and 4 books, most recently the co-authored volume, Squirrels of the World, and the upcoming International Wildlife Conservation: Response to Global Challenges.