Kansas State University Agronomy Faculty Member Charles Rice Receives Award For Distinguished Service

Manhattan, KS (August 24, 2022) - Charles W. Rice, Kansas State University distinguished professor of soil microbiology, has been awarded the American Society of Agronomy Distinguished Service Award. The award will be formally presented at the society's Awards Ceremony on Nov. 8 at its annual meeting in Baltimore, Maryland. The annual awards are presented for outstanding contributions to agronomy through education, national and international service, and research.

Rice holds the Vanier University Professorship in the agronomy department. He earned his Bachelor of Science at Northern Illinois University and Master of Science and doctorate at the University of Kentucky. He is internationally recognized for his work on conservation agriculture to improve soil microbiology and climate resilience. He has more than 250 publications and mentored over 50 graduate students. He served in numerous capacities with the American Society of Agronomy and the Soil Science Society of America, serving as its president in 2011. Internationally, he served on the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change in 2007 and 2014 and was among the participating scientists when the panel's work won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2007.

Rice is a fellow of the Soil Science Society of America, American Society of Agronomy and American Association for the Advancement of Science. He has chaired the Board on Agriculture and Natural Resources of the U.S. National Academies and received the title of national associate for his dedicated service.

The American Society of Agronomy Distinguished Service Award recognizes an individual or team who has made a transformational contribution to the profession of agronomy. This award recognizes development of agronomic service programs, practices and products for acceptance by the public. The focus will be on agronomic service with associated educational, public relations, administrative contributions and efforts as member(s) of the American Society of Agronomy.