{"id":161331,"date":"2025-09-17T10:23:23","date_gmt":"2025-09-17T14:23:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/webapp2.wright.edu\/web1\/newsroom\/?p=161331"},"modified":"2025-09-17T10:24:07","modified_gmt":"2025-09-17T14:24:07","slug":"2024-25-presidential-award-for-excellence-community-engagement","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/webapp2.wright.edu\/web1\/newsroom\/2025\/09\/17\/2024-25-presidential-award-for-excellence-community-engagement\/","title":{"rendered":"2024\u201325 Presidential Award for Excellence: Community Engagement"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"\"<\/a>

Don Cipollini, professor of biological sciences.<\/p><\/div>\n

For Don Cipollini, Ph.D., professor of biological sciences at Wright State University, making science accessible is both a passion and a mission.<\/p>\n

Whether he\u2019s discussing the dangers of invasive species or leading viewers on a journey through Ohio\u2019s natural wonders, Cipollini is one of Wright State\u2019s most effective science communicators \u2014 earning him the 2024\u201325 Presidential Award for Excellence in Community Engagement.<\/p>\n

Much like celebrated science communicators Neil deGrasse Tyson and Carl Sagan, Cipollini bridges the gap between academic knowledge and public understanding, while demonstrating that scientists are approachable, friendly and inspiring.<\/p>\n

\u201cDr. Cipollini has been able to communicate science and natural history to the general public in ways that most scientists fail to do,\u201d said Jeffrey Peters, Ph.D., professor and associate chair of the Department of Biological Sciences<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Cipollini\u2019s impact in the community is twofold. One area of focus is helping communities understand and address the growing threat of invasive species, including the emerald ash borer. He collaborates with local communities to identify solutions and raise awareness about ecological preservation, offering practical expertise rooted in decades of research.<\/p>\n

Equally notable is Cipollini\u2019s work in science communication. He produces and hosts \u201cThe Naturalist,\u201d a weekly interpretive nature show<\/a> broadcast on Yellow Springs cable access and on YouTube.<\/p>\n

\u201cThrough these productions, Dr. Cipollini exudes a contagious enthusiasm for nature<\/a>,\u201d Peters said. \u201cHe shows that he is not only knowledgeable about the natural world, but also the history of the regions and communities in which he films.\u201d<\/p>\n

Cipollini is also a sought-after source for media outlets covering environmental issues. From climate change and cicadas to invasive species and deer disease, he has helped demystify scientific issues. His clarity and credibility have made him a go-to expert for reporters seeking informed, approachable commentary on nature-related topics.<\/p>\n

Ay\u015fe \u015eahin, Ph.D., dean of the College of Science and Mathematics<\/a>, praised Cipollini as an excellent ambassador for both Wright State and the scientific community at large. She emphasized his unique ability to engage diverse audiences and said his work reflects the university\u2019s commitment to public service and scientific advancement.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe has a wealth of knowledge as a scientist and has the unique, and coveted, ability to bring his knowledge to the public domain in an understandable and accessible way,\u201d \u015eahin said.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Wright State biologist Don Cipollini\u2019s ability to share knowledge clearly and passionately has made him a trusted voice about the wonders of the natural world. Continue reading →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":66,"featured_media":161447,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[722,724,2064,2023,711,725,715,2402,746],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-161331","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-academics","category-awards","category-biology","category-faculty","category-faculty-staff","category-home-news-sidebar","category-news","category-presidents-awards-for-excellence","category-science-mathematics","series-faculty-awards-for-excellence-2024-25"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/webapp2.wright.edu\/web1\/newsroom\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/161331","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/webapp2.wright.edu\/web1\/newsroom\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/webapp2.wright.edu\/web1\/newsroom\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/webapp2.wright.edu\/web1\/newsroom\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/66"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/webapp2.wright.edu\/web1\/newsroom\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=161331"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/webapp2.wright.edu\/web1\/newsroom\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/161331\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":161516,"href":"https:\/\/webapp2.wright.edu\/web1\/newsroom\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/161331\/revisions\/161516"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/webapp2.wright.edu\/web1\/newsroom\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/161447"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/webapp2.wright.edu\/web1\/newsroom\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=161331"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/webapp2.wright.edu\/web1\/newsroom\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=161331"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/webapp2.wright.edu\/web1\/newsroom\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=161331"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}