Whit Gibbons earns John Herr Lifetime Achievement Award
AIKEN, SOUTH CAROLINA, April 2, 2024 – J. Whitfield “Whit” Gibbons, professor emeritus at the University of Georgia’s Savannah River Ecology Laboratory, was honored with the 2024 John Herr Lifetime Achievement Award by the Association of Southeastern Biologists (ASB). Gibbons was honored on Friday, March 22, 2024, in Chattanooga, Tennessee, for his astounding body of work and contributions to the field of ecology.
This prestigious award is given yearly by the ASB. Its two main criteria include a long-standing devotion to ASB and contributions to the advancement of biology in the southeastern United States.
Gibbons was venerated with this award due to his mentorship and engagement of students and other early career professionals and his dedication to environmental outreach. Over his lifetime, Gibbons has published over 250 peer-reviewed articles, 30 books, and 2000 weekly installments of “Ecoviews”. Gibbons has also mentored 45 master’s and PhD students over his career. These facets are just some of the reasons that showcase Gibbon’s dedication to the field of ecology.
Gibbons states about this honor, “I am honored to have been the recipient of the award but owe any achievements to my long-term associates at ASB and to SREL and other UGA colleagues, especially former students. It has been a wonderful experience, and my thanks go out to them. I continue to learn from them and admire their dedication to ecological research in concert with environmental outreach and education for all.”