On November 19 Dr. Vic Klemas, Professor of Marine Studies at the University of Delaware, was awarded the Science Prize of the Republic of Lithuania, for his lifetime achievements in applying remote sensing and other advanced techniques to study coastal ecosystems. Vic has also been active in helping the Baltic Sea University in Klaipeda to develop advanced coastal oceanography programs by teaching Fulbright courses and inviting other US scientists to do the same. With colleagues from Denmark, Sweden, Finland and Russia, Vic has also been a key organizer of the US/EU Baltic Sea symposia in various countries around the Baltic Sea.

The US Ambassador to Lithuania and the Lithuanian Minister of Science and Education congratulate Dr. Klemas (right) on his award.

     The award ceremony took place at the Academy of Sciences in Vilnius, the capital, and was attended by cabinet ministers and university presidents. The US ambassador to Lithuania, the hon. Anne E. Derse, was especially delighted and expressed her gratitude to Vic for strengthening international ties by collaborating with local scientists and working hard to advance the marine sciences at Baltic Sea universities. The other two awardees were from Harvard (medicine) and the University of Illinois (linguistics). Vic’s future plans include several environmental projects in the Baltic Sea and using the prize money to establish a scholarship for students majoring in the marine sciences.
     Dr. Victor Klemas is Professor of Marine Studies at the University of Delaware and Director of the Center for Remote Sensing. He specializes in the application of remote sensing techniques to coastal research and management. He has published over 100 articles in refereed scientific journals and is working on two books. Professor Klemas serves on the editorial boards of six scientific journals and has conducted sixteen workshops sponsored by UNDP, US/AID, NOAA, and NASA. He has served on six scientific committees of the National Research Council (NAS) and on various NOAA, NASA, EPA, and USGS advisory panels. Dr. Klemas is a member of the NOAA/NASA/ONR Coastal Ocean Application and Science Team. He also teaches at European universities as part of the Fulbright Program and organizes the US/EU Baltic Symposia.