2021 Fall Newsletter
Dear TSS members and friends,
Just when we thought we were turning the corner with this pandemic last summer, TSS found itself canceling and postponing events we had hoped to offer our community this fall. We shut down again and have tried to wait it out. As social events are becoming more common and better attended, we are rescheduling some long awaited field trips and activities.
TSS looks with renewed hope and enthusiasm to community events starting with the announcement of our 2020 and 2021 Gold Medal awards. You may remember that we made the difficult decision to forgo our annual Gold Medal Award in 2020 due to the ongoing threat from COVID-19. (If you are not familiar with the The Gold Medal Award, please take a look at its history on our website: https://tallysci.org/activities/)
With the announcement of the 2020 and 2021 Gold Medal Awardees, TSS pays tribute to one of our founding goals of enhancing science education at all levels. We are delighted to announce these Gold Medal winners:
2020 Award to Dr. Susan Blessing, Professor, Department of Physics at Florida State University
2021 Award to Mr. Carlos Villa, Center for Integrating Research & Learning at the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory.
The 2021 Gold Medal is awarded to Dr. Susan Blessing, Professor, Department of Physics at Florida State University. Dr. Blessing’s current research interests include the search for new phenomena in proton-antiproton collisions and electroweak physics. However, her passions have been in undergraduate education in physics and support of women in underrepresented physical sciences. Blessing was elected an American Physical Society fellow as an advocate for physics education. Additional accolades include establishing the FSU Office of National Fellowships; she also serves as director of Women in Math, Science and Engineering, (WIMSE).
The 2021 Gold Medal is awarded to Mr. Carlos Villa, K-12 Education Outreach Coordinator, Center for Integrating Research & Learning at the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory. Selection of Carlos Villa created an opportunity to honor one of the most recognized science educators in our community. His work with the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory (MagLab) has touched the lives of almost every child in Leon and surrounding counties. His science communication efforts are valued on a national stage, receiving the 2018 Distinguished Informal Science Educator Award; he reaches audiences across the globe through science communication videos along with guest starring roles in podcasts like NPR’s Short Wave. These sites reach millions of people.
These two Gold Medal winners represent the best in science education and outreach from K-12 through college levels. The Tallahassee community is lucky to have them!
In case you have missed some of TSS events and initiatives, please review our 2019 and 2020 Annual Reports for a detailed view.
A few highlights you may have missed:
Our new website allowed us to post recorded videos from each of the speakers in the spring Horizons series which TSS hosted virtually via zoom. Take a look!
In lieu of our traditional face-to-face field trips, TSS began a virtual series titled “Learn and Explore,” which were also recorded and can be accessed through the TSS website or YouTube.
In community outreach, TSS continued its sponsorship of the Florida History Fair Science Heritage Award. This year, Joseph Pinto of Clermont, FL, received the award for his poster, “Come in, Houston: The Creation of Satellite Communication to and from Spacecrafts (SID). ”Joe is shown here with his science teacher, Steve Lebron.
TSS Board Member Dr. Adrienne Stephenson presented the keynote address at a virtual kick-off event February 11th for the LeRoy Collins Leon County Public Library System celebration of the NEA Big Read – Leon County with the autobiography, Lab Girl, by acclaimed scientist Hope Jahren. TSS President Dr. Kerry Maddox facilitated two of the LCLS virtual book clubs.
This summer TSS tested a grant request system with organizations that offered summer science camps. Three programs were given small grants through this new system to help provide scholarships to students in need. We will share the outcomes of the camps when available.
Looking toward the next year, TSS is hopeful that we can again have face-to-face events and thus is planning for the spring Horizon series, field trips, and the Gold Medal Award public lecture and reception.
We appreciate all of our TSS members as this is our primary funding mechanism. If you are not a member or have let your membership lapse, please consider joining or renewing by visiting tallysci.org. (You will receive a reminder to renew membership.) Let’s continue working together to help make Tallahassee a “Science City!” We need you!
Thank you,
TSS Board of Directors
Best regards,
Your Board of Directors
Kerry Maddox, Pres.
Christopher Harvey, Vice Pres.
Carol Zimmerman, Treasurer
Amelia Maddox, Secretary
Barry Boerner
Martin Bremer
Mabry Gaboardi Calhoun
Shannon Gooden Davidson
Wallace Knight
Demetrius Rice
Adrienne Stephenson
Susan Vinson
The Tallahassee Scientific Society announces the award of their 2019 Gold Medal to Dr. Laura Greene, Chief Scientist at the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory. The Society’s Gold Medal, established in 2004, is bestowed annually on a scientist or scholar selected from the Tallahassee community whose career achievements in science or mathematics, and contributions to science education and outreach, are deemed exemplary.
Mabry specializes in earth science and promoting scientific literacy. She earned her Ph.D. in Geological Sciences from FSU, with her research at the MagLab, while serving as a NSF GK12 Fellow, working in public school classrooms. Mabry has also enjoyed working at the Florida Geological Survey, the Florida Center for STEM at FSU, and teaching earth science for seven years at TCC.
Yvonne worked in the Public Health Laboratory in Jacksonville and then as Bureau Chief in the Food Safety Laboratory at the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. After retirement from the State of Florida, a move to Denver, she is now back to Tallahassee. Yvonne works with the Association of Public Health Laboratories and the Association of Food and Drug Officials. She has a BS Biology from FSU and MS Community Health from UNF.
Tangy is a cardiac physiologist and Instructor in the sciences at Florida A&M University and Tallahassee Community College. One of her life goals is to offer an academic advantage to Middle and High Schoolers, and as a result she is the founder of the non-profit organization, Skolier Institute Summer Camp, Inc. She prides herself in mentoring, educating, and propelling scholars to higher levels. She enjoys reading and engaging outdoor activities with family.
Bill is a retired invertebrate biologist. He studied parasitology and genetics at the Florida State University, where his graduate studies focused on the genetics of digenetic trematodes. After graduating he spent 32 years as a marine fisheries manager with the state of Florida and federal fishery management councils. He has two grown children and has resided in Tallahassee since 1970. His interests include world history, paleontology, evolution, music, cycling, and kayaking.
Kerry brings a background of science teaching, training, research, and community outreach to the Board of Tallahassee Scientific Society. She presently teaches biology at Thomas University and serves on the Tallahassee Science Festival Board. In her professional career, she has worked to communicate complex concepts in science to a diverse range of students, from K-12 through seniors.
Chris earned a degree in Meteorology from FSU in 1995 and began teaching Physics, Physical, and Earth/Space Science at Godby High School, moving to Chiles High School in 2000. In 2008, Chris joined a team creating science assessments for Florida, then becoming the Mathematics and Science Coordinator while also overseeing the development of Florida’s state-wide Mathematics and Science assessments. Chris is the Instructional Certification Specialist for Leon County Schools and oversees the Beginning Teacher Program.
Tony is a Professor Emeritus of Computer Science from Southeast Missouri State University and retired Professor of Chemistry from Stephan F. Austin State University (TX). He is a physical / computational chemist who earned his B.S. in chemistry and mathematics from Marquette University and Ph.D. in physical chemistry from the Pennsylvania State University. 
George taught middle and high school in Louisville, Ky before becoming a faculty member in science education at FSU in 1967 where he retired with the rank of Professor Emeritus in 2001. His work, in addition to teaching, included curriculum development that evolved from print materials to multimedia. His projects have been used broadly in the US and internationally. 
Dana served for 30 years in the Florida Park Service, mostly as the state-wide chief biologist. Dana earned an MS in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology from FSU. He is an authority on the limpkin, the snail-eating wading bird, about which he authored several scientific accounts. Dana has been active on boards and as an officer for Florida Audubon Society, Apalachee Audubon Society, Birdsong Nature Center, and the St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge Association.
Carol, as a TSS board member is continuing her life-long interest in science and science education. After receiving her BS in Chemistry from Youngstown State University and MS from Florida State University in Science Education, She taught chemistry for 35 years, first at Godby High School and then Tallahassee Community College (TCC). At TCC, She also served as science program chair and was an active participant in TCC’s science student mentor program (STEM Stars).
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