The second $10,000 scholarship recipient is a government relations and public policy manager at the American Institute of Physics
BELLINGHAM, Washington, USA and CARDIFF, UK - SPIE, the international society for optics and photonics, has awarded its second Yaver Scholarship to SPIE Member Bethany Johns, manager of government relations and public policy at the American Institute of Physics. She intends to use the award to become a Certified Association Executive (CAE), through the America Society of Association Executives. During her studies, she will maintain her current role with the American Institute of Physics.
"I'm delighted to have my ongoing commitment to professional associations recognized by SPIE," said Johns. "Having the opportunity to gain my CAE is a critical step in achieving my long-term vision: to be a leader and innovator in professional association management to advance the frontier of science and technology."
Johns has a science research background in high energy physics and astrophysics, and policy expertise in the areas of environment, energy, agriculture, science, technology, and space. Since receiving her PhD in physics from Clemson University in 2010, Johns has worked for various professional scientific societies including the American Society of Agronomy, the Crop Science Society of America, and the Soil Science Society of America. In 2013, she was a science policy and communications consultant to the Commercial Spaceflight Federation, and was a John Bahcall Public Policy Fellow at the American Astronomical Society from 2010-2013. In her current role at AIP, Johns manages government relations advocacy services and administers tailored, nuanced strategies to educate, inform, and constructively influence policy and policy-makers.
The Joe and Agnete Yaver Memorial Scholarship honors the Yavers' long-term leadership at SPIE which was instrumental in the technical and financial success of the Society. It is available to SPIE Members and staff seeking an advanced degree from an accredited organizational management program, such as those awarding master's degrees in non-profit management, business administration, and technology management.
Joe Yaver, who died in November 2016, was the innovative executive director of SPIE from 1969 to 1993. Agnete Yaver worked alongside her husband to build the foundation for the Society's current multidisciplinary and international scope, extensively advancing its mission. An amount of US$10,000 will be awarded annually in May. Applications for next year's scholarship are due by March 15, 2020. The Yaver Scholarship is one of several named SPIE scholarships funded by companies and individuals who partner with SPIE to serve its non-profit educational mission.
About SPIE
SPIE is the international society for optics and photonics, an educational not-for-profit organization founded in 1955 to advance light-based science, engineering, and technology. The Society serves 257,000 constituents from 173 countries, offering conferences and their published proceedings, continuing education, books, journals, and the SPIE Digital Library. In 2018, SPIE provided more than $4 million in community support including scholarships and awards, outreach and advocacy programs, travel grants, public policy, and educational resources. www.spie.org.
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