The Greater Reno Zonta Club has granted $1,000 to the Desert Research Institute's Peter B. Wagner Memorial Award for Women in Atmospheric Sciences. The $1,000 annual award was created by former Nevada Lieutenant Governor and DRI employee Sue Wagner in memory of her late husband, Dr. Peter Byrne Wagner.

Dr. Wagner, a DRI atmospheric scientist, was killed in a March 2, 1980 plane crash while conducting research. The national award will be given to a woman pursuing her Masters or Ph.D. in atmospheric sciences or a related program at a university in the United States. The new award will be presented in September, in addition to the local $500 award Wagner established in 1981 for graduate students in UNR's Atmospheric Sciences Program.

Zonta International is a nonprofit service organization of executives in business and the professional working to improve the legal, economic, and professional status of women. Part of Zonta's commitment to women includes its Amelia Earhart Fellowship Awards for graduate study in aerospace related sciences and engineering. The Greater Reno Zonta Club chose to sponsor the award because of the strong connection between the Amelia Earhart Fellowships and the Peter Wagner Award, and because of Sue Wagner's desire to bring greater recognition to women in the atmospheric sciences.

Wagner said, "It is indeed a pleasure to receive the Zonta grant to help my husband's award further the careers of women in atmospheric sciences. I believe any woman who receives this award will be proud to list it on her resume."