Two of North Carolina State University s most distinguished scientists will be honored by the U.S. Department of the Interior for their contributions to the successful Cape Hatteras Lighthouse move. The ceremony will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 15, in the Chancellor s Conference Room in Holladay Hall at NC State . Dr. Ellis Cowling, University Distinguished Professor at Large, and Dr. Paul Zia, Distinguished University Professor Emeritus, will receive Citizens Awards for Exceptional Service from the U.S. Department of the Interior. Cape Hatteras National Seashore Superintendent Robert W. Reynolds will present the awards on behalf of National Park Service Director Robert Stanton. Chancellor Marye Anne Fox will host the ceremony and make brief remarks.
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Reynolds, Cowling and Zia will be available to speak with reporters immediately after the ceremony, which is scheduled to last less than 30 minutes. He also served as chairperson of the NC State University Ad Hoc Committee that reviewed and updated the NRC s scientific findings in 1997, at the request of Chancellor Emeritus Larry K. Monteith and N.C. Sen. Marc Basnight. One of Cowling s research interests is wood decay. The lighthouse sat on a timber foundation. Zia is a member of the National Academy of Engineering and one of the world s foremost authorities on concrete structure engineering.