Return to the Main Page Dr. Peter Wiebe, of Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, has been instrumental in the success of the U.S. GLOBEC (Global Ocean Ecosystems Dynamics) program, a joint NOAA-NSF program that supports research into the fisheries ecosystem on Georges Bank. The stated goal of GLOBEC is to understand the physical and biological processes controlling the abundance of marine animals in time and space. This research program provides vital information on the entire oceanic ecosystem that supports cod and haddock on Georges Bank. From the beginning of the field program on Georges Bank in 1994, Wiebe has donated his time, talents, and considerable energies as chair of the Georges Bank Executive Committee. He has coordinated scientists, science projects, and cruise schedules; overseen data management and integration of research results; convened workshops to disseminate research findings; promoted GLOBEC in local, regional, and national venues; and represented the GLOBEC Georges Bank program at international meetings. He has also been instrumental in a pilot program to involve local fishermen as full partners in the collection of oceanographic data to support fisheries research (see Nature 386:108, 13 March 1997). His own research program has led to significant advances in technology development for tracking zooplankton distribution and abundances. While participating in the program as an active scientist, Peter has consistently advocated a path that was for the greatest good of the entire program, even if his individual research project would suffer. He has wrestled with budgetary shortfalls and logistic problems, and responded with a good-humored enthusiasm that exemplifies his can-do attitude. He has earned the highest level of respect and admiration from his peers and collaborators. Dr. Nancy Rabalais Since its inception in 1990, NOAA's Coastal Ocean Program (COP) has supported partnerships of federal and academic scientists on multi-year efforts that have contributed substantially towards improving our understanding of marine environments and to help the nation solve critical environmental problems facing our coastal oceans. Dr. Nancy Rabalais of the Louisiana Universities Marine Consortium has served since 1990 as a Principal Investigator for COP-sponsored research on hypoxia (low-oxygen bottom water) in the northern Gulf of Mexico. This zone of hypoxia, popularly known as the "dead zone," is the largest in the western Atlantic Ocean (up to 18,000 km2 in mid-summer), forming in the middle of the most important commercial and recreational fisheries in the lower 48 states. Dr. Rabalais' research findings and monitoring of this zone helped raise awareness of the problem, directly leading to a call for action to assess its causes and consequences, and ultimately to find ways to reduce its size. Dr. Rabalais is presently a team leader for a White House Committee on the Environment and Natural Resources (CENR) assessment of the causes and consequences of the Gulf hypoxia. Dr. Rabalais was selected as part of the CENR assessment team because of her ability to provide the critical scientific information that is needed to begin the process of alleviating this major coastal problem. Dr. Rabalais has a distinguished reputation within the scientific community and is recognized as a leading authority in her field. Dr. Rabalais' investigations have provided and will continue to provide vital information of scientific and socioeconomic importance for not only the State of Louisiana, but in the broader effort to address the critical problem of nutrient enrichment that is affecting the nation's coasts. Dr. Donald Anderson, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, has been a strong advocate for harmful algal bloom (HAB) research and issues for more than twenty years. Dr. Anderson is recognized as one of the world's authorities on these problematic events which seriously impact coastal resources, local and regional economies, and public health throughout the world's oceans. Dr. Anderson serves on many national and international institutions, boards, and agencies to develop a global understanding of the serious consequences and potential remedies for the increasingly frequent, and debilitating HAB events. In the U.S. he is the nation's strongest voice for HAB issues, addressing public officials (e.g., Congress, agency staffs, and national boards), academic and federal researchers, private corporations, and policy makers for tate and health organizations on the impacts of U.S. coastal blooms. Dr. Anderson has been a leader in the research community toward developing the nation's first coordinated HAB research program. He has provided strong leadership and expertise in several reports on HAB issues, including: "Marine Biotoxins and Harmful Algae - A National Plan," "The Ecology and Oceanography of Harmful Algal Blooms (ECOHAB)," and was co-author for "Harmful Algal Blooms in Coastal Waters: Options for Prevention, Control and Mitigation", and "Status of U.S. Harmful Algal Blooms: Progress towards a National Program." Dr. Anderson's research activities include directing the National Office of Marine Biotoxins and Harmful Algae at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, providing national and international HAB information to the global community. Dr. Anderson also maintains one of the most productive HAB laboratories and field programs in the world, and has authored or co-authored well over 100 peer reviewed publications on ths topic. Without Dr. Anderson's leadership and commitment to HABs, the U.S. national HAB program would not exist and our comprehension of this global problem would not exist. Donald Anderson is a true HAB Hero and is most deserving of our recognition as a national leader. John R. Russell, a retired chemist, has been a tireless volunteer since 1997 for NOAA's Center for Fisheries and Habitat Research at Beaufort, North Carolina. Russell has dedicated himself to assisting Beaufort scientists in several important studies on marine mammals and enironmental conditions off the North Carolina coast. His skills have been particularly useful in operating and maintaining Beaufort's small research boats used to collect data. Without his help, some of the field research would not have been completed. Russell has also assisted Beaufort staff in responding to the approximately 100 marine mammal strandings reported in North Carolina each year. These beach-cast specimens offer a wealth of information about food habits, reproductive history, or cause of death. Stranding response requires a large number of trained volunteers and Mr. Russell is now heavily relied upon by Beaufort scientists to assist in collecting tissue samples, completing data forms and transporting, archiving, and storage of marine mammal specimens. In short, Russell has become a treasured stranding team volunteer for his more than 75 days of dedicated assistance. His tireless enthusiasm for the work at hand and his willingness to participate in any task is helping to improve the understanding of marine mammals in North Carolina coastal waters. Russell has also assisted Laboratory employees in responding to marine mammal strandings. More than 100 marine mammal strandings are reported each year in North Carolina. These beach-cast specimens offer a wealth of information about food habits, reproductive history, or cause of death, but also require a large number of trained volunteers. He quickly learned tissue sample collection techniques and how to complete data forms. Willing to aid in the necropsy, transport, archival, storage, and disposal of marine mammal parts, he has become a treasured stranding team volunteer. By rearranging his personal schedule, Russell has been available to help on more than 75 days. His tireless enthusiasm for the work at hand and his willingness to participate in any task, even the monotonous and thankless ones, have enabled us to do our job more effectively.