GOVERNOR CREATES NEW SCIENCE PRIZE

The following information was released by the office of the governor of Indiana:

Governor Mitch Daniels announced today the state will create the Dr. Philip E. Nelson Innovation Prize to recognize outstanding Hoosier scientists for their unique discoveries, research and inventions.

The prize is named in honor of Dr. Nelson, a distinguished Purdue University scientist who was awarded the 2007 World Food Prize in October for his revolutionary achievements in the field of food processing. Dr. Nelson, whose career has spanned more than 45 years at Purdue, was the university's first department head of food science and is the Scholle Chair Professor in Food Processing. Dr. Nelson won the prestigious World Food Prize, which is considered to be the "Nobel Prize" of agriculture, for developing the aseptic process to store fruits and vegetables to prevent post-harvest spoilage.

"The great scientist or inventor does far more to improve people's lives than the politicians, business leaders or entertainers who dominate the headlines," said Daniels. "It's time we lifted up and honored those Hoosiers whose scientific achievements will make us the great state we intend to be."

Daniels said the Nelson Innovation Prize will recognize a Hoosier scientist whose work goes beyond pure scientific research and leads to the creation of products or processes that revolutionizes industry, inspires further scientific inquiry, and improves the quality of life. Recipients will be scientists with a unique combination of intellectual curiosity, scientific expertise, and entrepreneurial spirit. The prize will come with a cash award of $5,000, which will be funded by the Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC) Foundation. A panel of distinguished Indiana scientific researchers and entrepreneurs will work with the IEDC to establish the selection criteria for the prize.

Dr. Nelson, originally from Morristown, joined the Purdue faculty in 1961, where he earned his undergraduate and graduate degrees. He has spent his career pursuing research that led to the development of the aseptic processing and packaging of vegetables and fruits. His award-winning innovations are present in nearly every country world in the world and have had a positive impact on the world food supply.

Among his many awards, Nelson received the prestigious Nicholas Appert Award from the Institute of Food Technologists in 1995 top award for preeminence in the field of food science and technology.