Amid more than 450 presentations, group discussion panels and posters presented by universities and private companies at the Poultry Science Associations (PSA) 98th annual meeting, time was taken to award two scientists for their outstanding work in the poultry science industry. PSA and Novus International recognised Dr Adam Davis for his many contributions to the poultry industry. Novus also took time to celebrate the research and work of Dr Park Waldroup.

Dr Adam Davis, Professor and Researcher, University of Georgia, Athens, was presented with the prestigious Poultry Science Association Inc., Novus International Teaching Award.

Dr Davis earned his Bachelor and Doctoral degrees from Cornell University and focuses his poultry nutrition research on: amino acid interactions, alternative grains, de novo fat synthesis and in reproductive physiology.

Since starting work at the University of Georgia, Dr Davis has dramatically increased undergraduate enrollment in University's Poultry Science Department.

"The award is provided by Novus International in recognition of the fact that excellence in teaching is basic to the future welfare of the poultry industry," said Drew Giesen, Technical Services Manager, Novus International. "It is the desire of Novus that the award be considered not only as a recognition for past contributions, but also as an aid for continued professional improvement through travel, study and other means."

Novus also hosted a research collaborators dinner where Dr Park Waldroup, Poultry Nutrition Professor, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, and researcher at the Center of Excellence for Poultry Science, was recognized as Novus International's only distinguished professor.

Dr Waldroup earned his Bachelor's degree from the University of Tennessee and his Master's and Doctoral degrees from the University of Florida.

"Monsanto, the predecessor, provided a grant that paid for my assistantship [during graduate school] and we've done a number of studies since then," said Dr Waldroup.

"The relationships that we start with graduate students early on in their career can really have an impact over the years," said Chris Knight, Vice President of Research and Development, Novus International.

Dr Waldroup has contributed to the poultry science industry more than 400 research papers, 60 students and presentations in upward of 50 countries.

"[Dr. Waldroup] is back in our DNA, our history," said Mr Knight. "He was the first graduate student in the Nutrition Chemicals Animal Sciences division in Monsanto that worked with providing the first peer-reviewed publication on Santoquin feed antioxidant 50 years ago – something we're also celebrating today."

Today, Dr Waldroup's research focuses on nutrient requirements and interactions in broilers and turkey, emphasising nutrition to carcass composition.

Even in his thank you speech, Dr Waldroup gave advice to current poultry science students. "I want to encourage all of you to work hard on your career, work with the industry and work with each other," said Dr Waldroup.

"PSA is a gathering place for science and scientists of the world to come in and present their scientific findings for the year, share those with their colleagues and actually generate some new ideas," said Jim Kessler, PSA Executive Director.

"This year, Novus has continued our commitment as a top sponsor of this very valuable meeting for our industry as a whole," said Scott Carter, Poultry Marketing Manager, Novus International.

Novus was a gold level sponsor of the PSA 98th annual meeting, which included sponsorship of the poultry science meeting 'Global Views of New Agriculture: Food, Energy and the Environment' and the poster viewing session.

As a participant, Novus displayed a scientific poster and delivered two oral presentations on research findings.