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PrintScientist recognized for work with spinosyns
Thomas Sparks, a researcher at Dow AgroSciences, Indianapolis, Indiana, has won the 2012 international award for research in agrochemicals from the agrochemical division of the American Chemical Society.
Sparks was instrumental in the development of the spinosyn class of insecticides. The active ingredient is derived from a naturally occurring soil-dwelling bacterium and is grown in fermentation. It kills a variety of insect pests while leaving many beneficial insects (other than honey bees) unharmed. One active ingredient in the class, spinosad, was recognized with a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Presidential Green Chemistry Challenge Award in 1999.
Sparks will receive the award at the American Chemical Society’s meeting to be held August 19 to 23, 2012, in Philadelphia. The award includes a cash prize as well as the opportunity to organize a symposium at the meeting.
Sparks has a doctorate in entomology from the University of California in Riverside. He was named scientist of the year in 2009 by R&D Magazine for his spinosyn work.
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