GOEO announces recipients of Governor’s Science & Technology Medals

The Utah Governor’s Office of Economic Opportunity (GOEO) has announced the recipients of the 2025 Governor’s Medal for Science and Technology award.

The honorees were presented with their awards by Lt. Gov. Deidre Henderson at a ceremony and dinner at This is the Place Heritage Park on May 21.

Winners of this year’s medals are M. Denise Dearing, chair of the Department of Biology at the University of Utah, in the Academic/Research category; Sidney J. Green, founder, president and CEO of rock mechanics engineering firm TerraTek, in the Industry-Individual category; and Nicola Hack, a science teacher at the Salt Lake Center for Science Education, in the K-12 Education category.

“We’re pleased to congratulate this year’s recipients of the Governor’s Medal for Science and Technology,” said Linda Cabrales, director of the Utah Innovation Center, a division of GOEO. “Each of these individuals excels in their respective fields and demonstrates the qualities that have built Utah’s thriving science and technology community.”

Dearing is an ecologist whose pioneering research has advanced the field of ecology and helped position Utah as a leader in scientific innovation, GOEO said in its announcement.

“She embodies the highest standards of excellence, educational leadership and service to Utah’s values,” the citation reads.

She was the inaugural associate dean for research for the UofU’s College of Science before her appointment as chair of the Department of Biology. Some of her honors include the Distinguished Scholarly and Creative Research Award, the C. Hart Merriam Award and being named a distinguished professor by the University of Utah. Dearing has published more than 180 peer-reviewed publications with over 11,500 citations and has received extensive external funding to support her research projects.

Green is an engineer and entrepreneur who helped shape Utah’s high-tech industry. At TerraTek, he positioned Utah as a leader in geomechanics analysis, sparking economic growth that led to the development of other technology companies across the state, according to GOEO.

Green advised the governor and Legislature as a member of the Utah Science Council and was the founding chair of the Utah Technology Finance Corp. In 1994, he was elected to the National Academy of Engineering, one of only 15 members from Utah to serve in this capacity. He holds 24 patents, has published 119 peer-reviewed papers, and is internationally recognized for his technical achievements.

Hack started her career in education after earning a Ph.D. in developmental neurobiology and working as a research scientist. Realizing a need for early STEM education, she collaborated with fellow experts to launch a science-focused charter school in Utah.

“Her commitment to interdisciplinary, science-based learning continues to shape students’ educational journeys,” the announcement said. “Over the years, Hack’s visionary leadership has created impactful opportunities for students to excel while supporting future educators and leaders. Her leadership, unwavering commitment to equitable STEM education, ability to develop teacher capacity, and transformative impact on students exemplify excellence in education.”