ESS Research Scientist Scott Henderson was recognized this spring with the College of the Environment Distinguished Staff Member award. This award honors staff members for their outstanding achievements, service, leadership and dedication. The Awards Committee was impressed by the many letters from faculty, students and staff in support of Scott’s nomination. Scott exemplifies the qualities of an outstanding staff member: technical excellence, a collaborative spirit and a deep commitment to supporting the academic community.
Scott’s impact on student success is profound. His unwavering dedication to mentorship — whether through hands-on guidance, interdisciplinary collaboration or creating opportunities for growth — has inspired a new generation of geoscientists and data scientists. As one student reflected, “In his time at UW, Scott has mentored many early career folks, as well as graduate students, of which I am proud to be one. His mentorship has both shaped me into a more confident scientist and has also facilitated my acceptance into the broader cryosphere and open-science community.” His leadership in initiatives like the eScience Hackweeks and the Data Science Incubator program has built lasting professional networks for students and early career scientists.
Scott’s technical expertise and vision have transformed data science research and education at UW. One colleague noted that his “impact on open-source computing, education and research is nothing short of transformative.” Another highlighted the scale of his contributions: Scott has made substantial contributions “across hundreds of open-source software packages, significantly improving the tools that underlie modern scientific research. He has selflessly given his time to nurturing both the software packages that enable high-impact research and the communities that support them.” His work not only has advanced the accessibility of cutting-edge computational tools but also has empowered students, faculty and researchers across disciplines to integrate these tools into their research seamlessly.
Scott’s colleagues also emphasized his generosity, collaborative spirit and dedication to cross-disciplinary teamwork. His commitment to open science, contributions to critical research infrastructure and behind-the-scenes support have advanced UW’s mission as well as left an enduring mark on the broader scientific community.
Please join us in congratulating Scott Henderson on this well-deserved recognition of his extraordinary contributions to student success, research excellence and the collaborative spirit of the College of the Environment!