Iowa State University economist Catherine Kling has been elected to the prestigious National Academy of Sciences.

She is the 11th ISU faculty member and the first female professor at the school to receive the honor.

Kling is a Charles F. Curtiss distinguished professor of agriculture and life sciences at Iowa State, a professor of economics and the director of the university’s Center for Agricultural and Rural Development.

“Dr. Kling joins some of the most distinguished scientists in the history of this institution as a member of the academy, and I join the rest of the Iowa State University community in congratulating her on this well-deserved honor,” said ISU President Steven Leath.

Kling, whose work has included a comprehensive look at the value of lake recreation and of clean water, said she has long admired the academy members. “The group of people elected to the National Academy of Sciences is awe-inspiring, and it’s an incredible honor to be among them,” Kling said. “I’ve tried my entire career to emulate the environmental economists in the section of the academy I’ve been elected to. I don’t really have the words to describe what an honor this is.”

Kling has made numerous contributions to natural resource and environmental economics, conducting innovative research throughout her career that melds environmental science with classical economics.

ISU’s other Academy of Sciences members:

Donald Duvick, agronomy, 2002

John D. Corbett, chemistry, 1992

Harley Moon, veterinary medicine, 1991

Arnel Hallauer, agronomy, 1989

John Bremner, agronomy, 1984

Orville Chapman, chemistry, 1974

Jay Lush, animal science, 1967

Frank Spedding, physics and materials science, 1952

Chester Werkman, bacteriology, 1946

Henry Gilman, chemistry, 1945

Read more about the honors online.