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2012 AWARDEES

Advanced Manufacturing Award
Adam Polcyn, PhD, Andrew Wagner, PhD, Paul Ohodnicki, PhD, Paul Medwick , PhD (PPG Industries)
Drs. Polcyn, Wagner, Ohodnicki and Medwick created, developed and commercialized Solarban R100 glass, a novel solar-control low emissivity coated architectural glass. This glass provides significant energy savings, enhanced comfort for building occupants and the visual qualities architects prefer.

Advanced Materials Award
Eric Beckman, PhD
University of Pittsburgh
Dr. Beckman is behind the invention of TissuGlu, a new, high-strength surgical adhesive that is biocompatible for use inside the human body. The adhesive, designed to help reduce drainage following plastic surgery procedures, allows body tissues to heal more naturally.

Catalyst Award
Illah Nourbakhsh, PhD
Carnegie Mellon University
Dr. Nourbakhsh directs the Community Robotics, Education and Technology Empowerment lab (CREATE) at Carnegie Mellon. Additionally, he has produced a remarkable string of his own community-enabling projects, including ChargeCar, which seeks to create custom electric cars built by local citizens.

Corporate Innovation Award
Daedalus
Daedalus, a product development firm, works with technology companies to create innovative products and interfaces. A notable collaboration with Philips Home Healthcare resulted in a handheld device that uses painless microspectroscopy to measure newborns' bilirubin levels to test liver function.

Elementary Educator Award
Paul Treacy
Armstrong School District
Paul Treacy actively develops thematic science units for his kindergarten program. Through his skills as a grant writer and educator, Treacy has obtained valuable materials that have created science resource centers and an outdoor classroom for his students.

Middle-Level Educator Award
Margie Ritson
Franklin Regional School District
As a sixth grade science teacher, Margie Ritson keeps her students engaged with educational exercises called "Science Inquiry Days." During the final two weeks of the school year, students build and test projects that are showcased on the last day.

High School Educator Award
Jodi King
Chartiers Valley High School
Jodi King helps her students apply scientific concepts to real world situations through case study teaching. Using this method, King's students are able to solve complicated problems, retain information, and make connections between biology, chemistry and physics.

University/Post-Secondary Educator Award
Melissa Bilec, PhD and Amy Landis, PhD
University of Pittsburgh
Drs. Bilec and Landis have developed the sustainability and green design curriculum at the University of Pittsburgh. With this curriculum, they hope to create a generation of students who are inspired and equipped to examine sustainability efforts through quantitative approaches.

Leader in STEM Education
Math & Science Collaborative (MSC)
The Math & Science Collaborative has brought southwestern Pennsylvania into national prominence for gaining measurable traction in strengthening the teaching and learning of math and science—by applying research and collaboration from kindergarten through college.

* Catalyst for Professional and Community Education Award *
Evan "Jake" Waxman, MD, PhD
University of Pittsburgh
Among Dr. Waxman's most notable achievements is the Guerilla Eye Service (GES), a community service and teaching project that provides eye exams to underserved patients. Since 2005, GES has trained dozens of students and provided care for thousands of patients.

University/Post-Secondary Student Award
Douglas Nelson
University of Pittsburgh Departments of Bioengineering and Anesthesiology
Douglas Nelson, a PhD candidate, is designing technologies to increase the quality and safety of health care. These technologies include simulation-based training systems for doctors and nurses using virtual reality to practice medical procedures before they treat real, living patients.

Emerging Female Scientist Award
Lillian Chong, PhD
University of Pittsburgh
Dr. Chong is at the forefront of tackling challenges in the field of molecular simulations. She and her team have made significant developments in utilizing computer power to access the dynamics of biochemical processes such as protein folding and binding.

Start-Up Entrepreneur Award
Nicholas Kuhn
ALung Technologies Inc.
Nicholas Kuhn, Director and Chief Operating Officer of ALung Technologies, has converted medical science into a viable product by developing the HemoLung^® System. This device provides a superior clinical and cost-effective solution for patients with breathing problems in the ICU.

Entrepreneur Award Henry Thorne
Thorley Industries
Henry Thorne has created some of the region's most notable products and established the companies selling them. Examples include the Aethon Tug, which delivers supplies in hospitals; the self-folding Origami stroller; and the forthcoming Breeze playard from 4moms.

Environmental Award
Tom Joseph
Epiphany Solar Water Systems
Tom Joseph, Founder/CTO of Epiphany Solar Water Systems, is developing ground-breaking technology designed to solve the global water crisis. His lead product is a low-cost, high-output, solar-powered water purification unit designed for Third World nations.

Information Technology Award
David Sharbaugh
SmartRoom
David Sharbaugh is president of SmartRoom, which offers front-line health care workers a touch-enabled solution designed to increase caregiver productivity and reduce medical errors by simplifying work and building high reliability into clinical tasks – all while enhancing patient engagement.

Life Sciences Award
Joel S. Schuman, MD
University of Pittsburgh
Dr. Schuman, Eye and Ear Foundation Professor and chairman of the Department of Ophthalmology, has pioneered the development of optical coherence tomography (OCT), a powerful tool that aids in the early detection of eye disease, specifically glaucoma.

* Science Communicator *
Timothy Puko
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
Puko has published a significant body of articles explaining the Marcellus shale gas industry and examining its long-term environmental impact. Consequently, regulators took notice of the industry's growth and violations, and companies began reforming their practices to reduce effects.

* New Award for 2012 *

2012 HONORABLE MENTIONS

Corporate Innovation Award Honorable Mention
Seegrid Corporation
Seegrid Corporation brings robotic vision-guided technology to the material handling industry. This technology transforms industrial vehicles into unmanned, automated forklifts, pallet trucks, and tow tractors. Seegrid's Robotic Industrial Trucks are revolutionizing the movement of materials in manufacturing and distribution environments.

High School Educator Award Honorable Mention
James Cassandro
North Hills School District
Cassandro developed a course in which students were permitted only recycled cardboard as their building material for projects such as the construction full size boats and cars. His waste-free model has rendered a budget of only 50 cents per student.

University/Post-Secondary Student Award Honorable Mention
Sam Rothstein
University of Pittsburgh-Department of Chemical Engineering Sam Rothstein, a PhD candidate at Pitt, has developed a mathematical model that can be used to predict the controlled release of almost any drug from degradable polymer matrices. His work is being commercialized by Pittsburgh-based startup, ChroKnow Inc.

Emerging Female Scientist Award Honorable Mention
Shelley Anna, PhD
Carnegie Mellon University Dr. Anna is being recognized for her expertise in microfluidics and scaling analysis. Her contributions have distinguished her as a leader in the engineering field as exemplified by the high number of citations referencing her work in published research papers.

Start-up Entrepreneur Honorable Mention
Tracy Brown
Evil Genius Designs, Inc.
Tracy Brown, CEO and Founder of Evil Genius Designs, helps brands connect with guests through a software service that allows any cell phone or wireless device to participate in engagements (games, coupons, etc.) on shared screens at venues or online.

Entrepreneur Award Honorable Mention
Saul Shiffman, PhD
invivodata, Inc.
Dr. Shiffman, Co-Founder of invivodata, combined behavioral science with handheld and web-based technology to develop electronic diaries (eDiaries) - the foundation of today's electronic Patient Reported Outcomes (ePRO) industry. eDiaries help researchers evaluate the safety and effectiveness of new medical treatments.

Environmental Award Honorable Mention
Gregory Lowry, PhD
Carnegie Mellon University - Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
Dr. Lowry has developed nanotechnology-based solutions for improving environmental quality by helping others understand the risks associated with nanomaterials in consumer products, which pose threats to the environment and human health. Also, he is developing novel nanoparticles for environmental remediation.

Science Communicator Award Honorable Mention
Lou Kilzer
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
Mr. Kilzer investigated the greed behind China's hoarding of rare-earth minerals from the U.S., and translated this issue for Tribune-Review readers. His news stories focused on how these practices affect Americans, since these minerals are used to develop everyday electronic devices.

Science Communicator Award Honorable Mention
Pierina Morelli
WQED Multimedia
Ms. Morelli, a WQED videojournalist, has the ability to captivate thousands of viewers with 10- to 30-minute reports on scientific, environmental and technological issues by capturing the human element of each story. She ranks among the most-watched journalists on WQED's website.