Five research, administrative and technical staff members have won "Staff of the Year" honors, and four co-authors earned the outstanding scientific article award for 2002. The awardees, announced on 15 May 2003 by ICARDA Director General Prof. Dr Adel El-Beltagy, were chosen by the Center's Executive Committee based on criteria that assessed nominees' productivity, skills, commitment, and contributions in support of the Center's mission, with emphasis on strengthening and expanding the Center's links with its national agricultural research system partners.

Dr Ahmed Tawfik Moustafa, Coordinator of the Arabian Peninsula Regional Program, was recognized in the Principal Scientific and Managerial category for his research and development efforts in protected agricultural production, done while running the regional program and the Center's busy Dubai office, writing proposals, and facilitating the work of his colleagues. He has excelled in building close working relationships with national programs and donors, and played a key role in having a new agreement signed with the UAE to give full recognition to the ICARDA-Dubai office, and in promoting the work of the CGIAR in the sub-region with a view to enlisting GCC as a member of the System.	Dr Ahmed Tawfik Moustafa
Dr Ahmed Mazid has worked with ICARDA for 25 years. In that time he completed his MSc and PhD degrees, and authored or coauthored 75 articles, reports, training documents and papers in refereed journals. He was recognized in the Research and Administrative category for the quantity and quality of his work, his timeliness, and the steady increase in his contributions to the Natural Resource Management Program (NRMP).	Dr Ahmed Mazid
Mr Moyomola Bolarin was recognized in the Research and Administrative category for his tireless work at headquarters and during media production field assignments. He was applauded for the quality of his outputs and his positive attitude in dealing with his colleagues in the Communication, Documentation and Information Services unit, Center scientists, and administrators.	Mr Moyomola Bolarin
Mr Hisham Salahieh was recognized in the General Service category for his consistent improvement in the depth and breadth of his contribution to NRMP. He demonstrates a willingness to learn and try new approaches and methodologies. In 2002 he coauthored papers with colleagues in his own unit, and with colleagues in the Germplasm Program, which shows versatility and commitment to teamwork.	Mr Hisham Salahieh
Ms Nadejda Samoylova, from our Central Asia and the Caucasus Regional Program office, Tashkent, was recognized in the General Service category for the high volume of her work, and the precision with which she does it. She handles all administrative tasks effectively, from arranging visas and travel schedules to maintaining linkages with the Center's national agricultural research system cooperators. She is a friendly, effective facilitator of ICARDA's outreach mission.	Ms Nadejda Samoylova

The award for the outstanding scientific article for 2002 went to Dr Amor Yahyaoui, M. S. Hakim, M. El-Naimi, and N. Rebeiz for "Evolution of Physiologic Races and Virulence of Puccinia striiformis on Wheat in Syria and Lebanon," which was published in Plant Disease, 96:499-504.

     The "Staff of the Year" awards, instituted in 1995 by Prof. Dr El-Beltagy, are intended to enhance the scientific and administrative excellence of ICARDA by recognizing those staff members whose services are judged to be outstanding.

Congratulations to all the winners!

ICARDA's (www.icarda.org) mission is to improve the welfare of people and alleviate poverty through research and training in dry areas of the developing world by increasing production, productivity, and nutritional quality of food, while preserving and enhancing the natural resource base. ICARDA is a Future Harvest Center.