Chevron Texaco Corporation
Policy, Government & Public Affairs
P.O. Box 6078
San Ramon, CA 94583-0778
www.chevrontexaco.com
ChevronTexaco Conservation Award for Research,
Education & Marine Protection programs
SAN RAMON, CALIFORNIA, September 9, 2004 -- For their unique research, education and marine protection programs, the Panacea, Florida’s Gulf Specimen Marine Laboratory (GSML) today was named one of six winners of the 50th annual ChevronTexaco Conservation Awards.
"By collaborating with educational, government and research organizations, we've used our expertise to touch the lives of both marine life and mankind," said Jack Rudloe, founder of GSML.
Founded in 1963 by Jack and his wife Anne, GSML facilities house hundreds of species of local marine life used in educational and research programs in universities, aquariums and museums across the world. In 2003, a compound found in one Gulf of Mexico specimen provided by GSML to the National Cancer Institute received clinical approval for treatment of esophageal cancer. GSML's animals have flown in the space shuttle in order , apparently to help NASA study weightlessness. Other species are used in pollution research. At any given time, there are 100 to 200 species are at GSML's marine facilities. They aren’t the only ones.
Each year, more 16,000 students visit GSML's 30,000-gallon aquarium to see, touch and learn about species of marine fish, sea turtles and invertebrates from the gulf. Since the 1970s, GSML also has been active in protecting coastal wetlands, sea turtles, marine resources and public lands. You can learn more about GSML at www.gulfspecimen.org.
Other 2004 ChevronTexaco Conservation Award winners include: Dr. Harry Butler, legendary conservationist, for conservation education, wildlife and habitat protection in Australia; Dale Harris, co-founder, the Great Burn Study Group,
for preservation of the Great Burn and other Montana wilderness areas; LightHawk, champions of environmental protection throughout the America's and Mesoamerica through a network of pilots; Dr. Shirley McGreal, founder, International Primate Protection League, for fighting illegal capture, sale and transport of primates; and, Dr. Terri Roth, vice president of animal sciences at the Cincinnati Zoo, for discovery of breeding methods and protection of the endangered Sumatran rhino.
An independent panel of leading conservationists selected the winners. Award recipients were honored at ceremonies at ChevronTexaco's global headquarters in San Ramon, California, and received a US $10,000 prize.
Since its founding in 1954 by the late Ed Zern, an acclaimed American outdoors writer, the ChevronTexaco Conservation Awards have honored more than 1,000 volunteers, professionals and organizations for their practical and creative solutions to environmental challenges.
ChevronTexaco Conservation Award recipients have helped to protect wildlife, restore wilderness, create natural preserves and parks, and institute educational programs to heighten environmental awareness.
About ChevronTexaco
Currently celebrating its 125th anniversary, ChevronTexaco is the fifth-largest energy company in the world, based on market capitalization. With more than 50,000 employees, ChevronTexaco conducts business in approximately 180 countries around the world, producing and transporting crude oil and natural gas, and marketing and distributing fuels and other energy products. ChevronTexaco is based in San Ramon, Calif. More information on ChevronTexaco is available at www.chevrontexaco.com.
Contacts:
Camille Costello at 925-842-2583, ccaj@chevrontexaco.com or
Peter Bartelme at 925-842-2590, brtp@chevrontexaco.com
GULF SPECIMEN MARINE LAB • PO BOX 237 • PANACEA, FL 32346 USA • (850) 984-5297 • FAX (850) 984-5233
