WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 19, 2006--Helping to develop and support the next generation of scientists in the fields of conservation, environmental science and park management, Canon U.S.A., Inc., in cooperation with the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) and the U.S. National Park Service (NPS), today introduced the 2006 Canon National Parks Science Scholars recipients here in Washington, D.C.

At a ceremony and reception held at the Art Museum of the Americas, eight scholarships were awarded to doctoral students from the Americas to conduct innovative research on scientific problems critical to national parks. This year's scholarship winners include:

-- Denny Capps, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada

-- Wade T. Cooper, University of Miami, Miami, Florida, U.S.A.

-- Adrian Di Giacomo, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina

-- Marina Gonzalez-Polo, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina

-- Carl J. Legleiter, University of California-Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, California, U.S.A.

-- Emily V. Saarinen, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, U.S.A.

-- Shannon Tushingham, University of California-Davis, Davis, California, U.S.A.

-- Carmen Wong, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

"The Canon National Parks Science Scholars Program's mission is to train the next generation of conservation scientists by encouraging the best and brightest graduate students in all relevant disciplines to conduct research important to the future of national parks, and expand scientific knowledge concerning conservation and sustainability, while sharing this knowledge broadly," said William Reed, senior vice president and general manager, Corporate Communications, Canon U.S.A., Inc. "Since its inception, nearly 70 doctoral students have experienced the program. Many are now working in conservation at universities and for national parks throughout the Americas, as well as conducting science critical to park conservation."

"This valued partnership, consisting of students, universities, Canon U.S.A., Inc. the AAAS, and the NPS has proven to be of great significance to national parks in the United States and throughout the Americas," said Mike Soukup, associate director, Natural Resource Stewardship and Science, NPS. "There is an enormous need to understand how the natural and cultural resources of national parks can be preserved in a developing world; research conducted by these young scientists is an important and vital part of the preservation and understanding of those resources."

"We continue to be excited about this partnership as it reaches a decade of accomplishment," said Dr. Shirley Malcom, Head, Education and Human Resources, AAAS. "We see the impacts of the program as Canon Scholars advance through their professional careers - it's valuable for science and conservation alike."

The Canon National Parks Science Scholars Program was established in 1997 and expanded in 2002 to include students and national parks throughout the Americas. The program, under the leadership of the newly created Canon Chair of Conservation at the University of Idaho, supports scientists who will learn, discover, invent and create solutions to preserve national parks in the region. Dr. Gary Machlis serves as the Canon Professor of Conservation and Program Director.

Each year, the Canon National Parks Science Scholars Program awards doctoral dissertation scholarships in four broad categories to support student research. The categories include:

-- Biological sciences (including botany, ecology and conservation biology)

-- Physical sciences (including geology, hydrology and atmospheric sciences)

-- Social/cultural sciences (including economics, sociology, anthropology and archaeology)

-- Technology innovation in support of conservation science (including informatics, remote sensing, photomonitoring and radiotelemetry)

For more information, visit www.canonscholars.org.

"As a global organization, Canon understands its responsibility for the impact its makes on society and the environment. Canon is guided by the philosophy of Kyosei - 'all people, regardless of race, religion, or culture, harmoniously living and working together into the future' - and its commitment to the environment," added Reed. "Embracing this philosophy, Canon U.S.A. has chosen to protect future generations by helping to preserve valuable resources through the support of a wide range of environmental and youth programs, such as the Canon National Parks Science Scholars Program."

In addition to the Canon Scholars Program, Canon provides cutting-edge technology to help manage and monitor wildlife and ecosystems within Yellowstone National Park. Canon also is title sponsor for the Canon Envirothon, North America's largest high school environmental education competition, and is a supporter of the annual National Environmental Education Week in the U.S.

The National Park Service preserves unimpaired the natural and cultural resources and values of the National Park System for the enjoyment, education, and inspiration of this and future generations.
The National Park Service cooperates with partners to extend the benefits of natural and cultural resource conservation and outdoor recreation throughout this country and the world. For more information about the NPS visit www.nps.gov.

The American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) is the world's largest general scientific society, and publisher of the journal, Science (www.sciencemag.org). AAAS was founded in 1848, and serves some 262 affiliated societies and academies of science, serving 10 million individuals. Science has the largest paid circulation of any peer-reviewed general science journal in the world, with an estimated total readership of one million. The non-profit AAAS (www.aaas.org) is open to all and fulfills its mission to "advance science and serve society" through initiatives in science policy; international programs; science education; and more.

About Canon U.S.A., Inc.

Canon U.S.A., Inc. delivers consumer, business-to-business, and industrial imaging solutions. The Company is listed as one of Fortune's Most Admired Companies in America and is rated #35 on the BusinessWeek list of "Top 100 Brands." Its parent company Canon Inc. (NYSE:CAJ) is a top patent holder of technology, ranking second overall in the U.S. in 2005, with global revenues of $31.8 billion. For more information, visit www.usa.canon.com.

Copyright Business Wire 2006

Canon U.S.A., Inc.

Canon U.S.A., Inc.

Canon U.S.A., Inc. delivers consumer, business-to-business, and industrial imaging solutions. The Company is listed as one of Fortune's Most Admired Companies in America and is rated #35 on the BusinessWeek list of "Top 100 Brands." Its parent company Canon Inc. (NYSE:CAJ) is a top patent holder of technology, ranking second overall in the U.S. in 2005, with global revenues of $31.8 billion. For more information, visit www.usa.canon.com.

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