David Hinton named Water Conservationist of the Year

David Hinton, Nicholas Professor of Environmental Quality at Duke University and CEINT investigator was honored as "Water Conservationist of the Year" by the North Carolina Wildlife Federation (NCWF). Hinton received his honor Saturday, September 12, at the 52nd annual Governor’s Conservation Achievement Awards ceremony in Cary, NC.

The NCWF Governor’s Conservation Achievement Awards honor individuals, associations, businesses and others who have exhibited an unwavering commitment to conservation in North Carolina. These are the highest natural-resource honors given in the state. In selecting Hinton for this well-deserved recognition, NCWF cited him for his lifetime achievements as an environmental educator; his research on water quality in the Tar-Pamlico watershed; and his mentorship of Master of Environmental Management students who were among the first ever to collect data on contaminants flowing into creeks in Granville County and the potential risks they posed. According to Hinton, "this was truly an honor and the range of awards and supporting information made me proud of this State we share."

Hinton, an environmental toxicologist for more than 40 years, is a renowned expert in the comparative anatomy and histopathology of fish species and is widely cited for his use of mutant medaka fish as model animals to screen for the presence of carcinogenic chemicals in the environment and study the health effects of exposure to persistent environmental contaminants.