The American Phytopathological Society (APS) has awarded the title of APS Fellow to Dr. Robert Wick, Emeritus Professor at Stockbridge School of Agriculture. The title of Fellow is one of the highest honors bestowed upon select members by the organization.
Wick is perhaps most well known for his widely-referenced "A Compendium of Flowering Potted Plant Diseases," and for his 35-year development of expertise in nematodes that attack turfgrasses.
Wade Elmer of The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station nominated Wick, saying
"DR. WICK HAS CONSISTENTLY AND EFFECTIVELY CONTRIBUTED TO THE SCIENTIFIC COMMUNITY IN THE AREAS OF RESEARCH, TEACHING, AND EXTENSION OUTREACH,"
especially in the areas of plant pathology and nematology, and he is today recognized as a world-renowned expert in plant disease diagnostics.
Professor Wick joined the UMass faculty in 1984, managing the diagnostic plant labs at the University's Waltham Experimental Station.
IN 1990, DR. WICK JOINED THE UMASS AMHERST CAMPUS AND BEGAN TEACHING COURSES ON PLANT PATHOLOGY, MYCOLOGY, NEMATOLOGY, FOREST PATHOLOGY, FLORICULTURE, AND TURFGRASS MANAGEMENT.
Wick excelled at developing courses and workshops, and he emerged as a leader in his field in 1985 when he was asked by developing countries, such as Bangladesh, Nepal, and Afghanistan, to organize plant clinics within their borders. For 15 years Dr. Wick traveled to Bangladesh Agricultural University annually to teach plant diagnostics to students there.
WICK WAS NAMED A FULBRIGHT SCHOLAR TWICE, IN 2006 AND 2014, FOR HIS TEACHING OF INTENSIVE DIAGNOSTIC PLANT PATHOLOGY COURSES FOR BANGLADESHI GRADUATE STUDENTS.
In 2012, Wick offered plant disease diagnosis workshops in Afghanistan. In 2016 he received an award from USAID/Winrock for helping farmers in Nepal combat clubroot of cabbage. In 2019, APS bestowed on him the Northeastern Division Award of Merit for "outstanding commitment and contributions to plant pathology." Dr. Wick has also served as a senior editor, and in other capacities, throughout the Northeast Division of APS.
His over 100 publications have stimulated new work from researchers in the field. The award ceremony will take place at the Plant Health 2022 Conference later this summer. Notes of congratulations may be sent to @email