Dennis Smith wins the 2009 Governor's Award for Excellence in Scientfic Research
South Carolina Governor's Award
This award was established in 1985 by the Drug Science Foundation to honor specifically an individual or team within the state whose achievements and contributions to science in South Carolina merit special recognition and to promote wider awareness of the quality and extent of scientific activity in South Carolina. Since 1989 the award, named the “Governor’s Award for Excellence in Science”, has been under the joint sponsorship of the Governor’s office and the South Carolina Academy of Science. In 1993 these groups were joined by the Dewees Development Corporation and Harbor Watch of Charleston. In 2000 Roche Carolina Inc. took the lead, in 2004 MeadWestvaco joined and in 2005 Michelin North America joined in sponsorship of the Governor’s Awards.
Beginning in 1990, two of these awards were given annually, with one being for scientific discovery and the other for scientific awareness. In 2005, the Academy, in conjunction with the Governor’s Office, initiated the sponsorship of a third award directed to a gifted young researcher (only those individuals who have completed no more than 12 years beyond the Ph.D.). The award is called the Governor’s Young Scientist Award for Excellence in Scientific Research and was sponsored by Michelin North America. The awards consist of an honorarium of $1,000 and a handsomely framed certificate which is presented to the recipient at a special awards ceremony held in the spring in conjunction with the South Carolina Academy of Science’s annual meeting.