2008 Distinguished Scientist/Engineer.

DR. ERIC YENSEN

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For an accomplished career studying the taxonomy, distribution, population ecology, demography, and conservation of ground squirrels and for research on other North and South American mammals, the Idaho Academy of Science awarded Dr. Eric Yensen the Distinguished Scientist Award.

Dr. Yensen was born in Homedale. Because the country was at war, which resulted in a shortage of high school science teachers, his father taught in Homedale, Adrian, and Parma. Eric grew up and attended school in Parma. As a child he says he was interested in natural history and science and loved it when his Dad expounded on subjects such as stars, trees, and flowers. Even as a youngster, Eric was concerned about the environment. He says everyone laughed when he was worried that population growth would eventually pave over the Treasure Valley.

As Eric grew older, his interests drifted to model airplanes. Then, the launch of Sputnik sparked an interest in building and testing model rockets, leading to explosions, fizzles, and some spectacular successes. He and his two brothers launched one rocket farther than 1000 feet with a mouse passenger and parachuted him safely to earth.

As a student at the College of Idaho, courses in general zoology from the legendary Lyle Stanford and general botany from the insightful Pat Packard refocused him on biology. He has stayed with it ever since and never thought seriously about doing anything else. Eric graduated from the College of Idaho in 1965, received a Masters from Oregon State in 1971 in systematic entomology, and a Ph.D. in 1973 from the University of Arizona in zoology with a minor in botany. Eric taught for four years at Boise State University and then started teaching at the College of Idaho in 1982, where he presently is a full professor.

Eric's research on ground squirrels has received grants from various agencies, including National Geographic, Idaho ...