2007-03-21 | SCIENCE
Norman Pace is receiving Microbiologys 2007 Abbott-ASM Lifetime Achievement Award

Norman Pace, professor of molecular, cellular, and developmental biology at the University of Colorado in Boulder, is receiving the American Society for Microbiology's 2007 Abbott-ASM Lifetime Achievement Award for outstanding contributions to the field of microbial ecology. Dr. Pace is a member of the NASA Astrobiology Institute research team headed by the University of Colorado Center for Astrobiology. This team is studying the origin of stars and planets, development of habitable planets, "RNA World" and the origins of life, biological evolution on Earth, energetics of life on other planets, and philosophical aspects of astrobiology and the search for life elsewhere. Dr. Pace is the lead member of the group on the Boulder team that is working on development and use of ribosomal-RNA-based molecular methods to survey and study the microbial constituents of ecosystems in extreme environments. Results of this research thus far include the discovery of new groups of organisms living in anaerobic environments and the identification of hydrogen (as opposed to sulfur) as the fundamental energy source for thermophilic (heat-loving) microbial communities living in Yellowstone National Park's hot springs.

One of Dr. Paces greatest contributions to microbiology, according to ASM, is his original insight combining molecular evolutionary and phylogenetic perspectives with microbial ecology. Dr. Pace's seminal ideas in cultivation-independent molecular approaches have positively transformed the science of microbial evolution and ecology. Dr. Pace's work plays an important role in the field of astrobiology.

The ASM awards will be presented at the Societys annual meeting in May.

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