Dr. Robert Heath, professor emeritus at Kent State University, received the 2026 Hero Award from the Friends of Old Woman Creek during its annual meeting on Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026.
Dr. David Klarer, retired Research Coordinator at Old Woman Creek (OWC), and Frank Lopez, former OWC director, nominated the biological sciences educator in recognition of his longstanding contributions to OWC.
“He served as a member of the OWC Advisory Board and, most importantly, encouraged others to conduct research at OWC,” Dr. Klarer said while presenting the annual award. “Dr. Heath has been a valued mentor throughout our professional careers.”
Dr. Heath, of Mantua, began his research at OWC in 1984, studying phosphorus dynamics in the creek through a grant from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. He advanced understanding of how algal growth occurs in the shallow, turbid waters of Great Lakes coastal wetlands, a discovery with lasting management implication, Klarer said.
In 1988 he was named to the Advisory Board and continued with an active role for more than 25 years, sharing his vast knowledge of Great Lakes environmental issues, said Dr. Klarer.
Throughout his career, Heath supported research at OWC by encouraging other scientists and their students, alerting them to research opportunities and funding options for work at OWC and other coastal wetlands. He was one of four scientists who organized and coordinated a research symposium on Great Lakes wetlands at OWC, where he presented his studies on nutrient dynamics. Through these efforts, he shared information about OWC and inspired others to undertake similar research at the state nature preserve and National Estuarine Research Reserve in Huron.
Heath also served as director of the Water Resources Research Institute at Kent State University and as chair of the Ohio Coastal Resources Advisory Council. In 2021, he received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Ohio Lake Management Society.
The Hero Award recognizes individuals or groups who have supported the mission of Old Woman Creek. The Friends of Old Woman Creek, founded in 1997, provides support for programs and activities at Old Woman Creek. Nominations for the Hero Award are open to the public and are due each November.