Ian Howat ’99 was among four scientists named by President Obama to receive the 2010 Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE). He received the award in a ceremony on Oct. 14 in Washington.

Howat, who teaches at the Ohio State University in Columbus and has a NASA grant, was recognized for outstanding contributions to the field of glaciology -- in particular, improvements to understanding glacier dynamics and their contributions to sea level rise.

Eugene Domack, The Joel W. Johnson Family Professor of Geosciences,  supervised Howat’s senior thesis at Hamilton and recalled “Ian is engaging and inquisitive and followed this nature up by applying himself academically.” Howat participated in the Hamilton NSF-funded research in Antarctica while he was a student.

The PECASE awards represent the highest honor bestowed by the U.S.  government on scientists and engineers beginning their independent  careers. They recognize recipients' exceptional potential for leadership  at the frontiers of scientific knowledge, and their commitment to community service as demonstrated through scientific leadership,  education or community outreach.