SMAST Ph.D. student Cate O'Keefe garnered an extraordinary honor last week at the annual science conference of the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea in Berlin. She was chosen for the 2009 Merit Award for the best presentation at the conference. The competition was nearly 400 other papers by marine scientists from all over the world. Cate's presentation was "From bust to boom: The success of industry collaboration in U.S. sea scallop research," co-authored with her advisor, Prof. Kevin D. E. Stokesbury. Read more.

Allan R. Robinson, renowned ocean scientist and SMAST Distinguished Senior Fellow, died last week at 76. The Gordon McKay Professor, Emeritus, of Geophysical Fluid Dynamics at Harvard University, Prof. Robinson is recognized as a pioneer and leading expert in both geophysical fluid dynamics and modern ocean prediction. He also played a key role in the launching and development of SMAST. Interim Dean John Farrington, who served on the SMAST Board of Advisors with Professor Robinson, remembers him as "a dedicated member of the committee, and persuasive in advocating for the best science for SMAST." Former Dean Brian Rothschild recalls, "Allan Robinson was an intellectual driving force in oceanography and at SMAST. His influence shaped our multidisciplinary excellence in oceanography and fisheries." Read more.

SMAST hosted another round of safety training for fishermen last Friday, thanks largely to the sponsorship of Sunderland Marine Mutual Insurance Company, Ltd. With supplementary support from Ocean Marine Insurance Agency and Smithwick and Mariners Insurance Agency, organizers were able to piece together a day of training that brought the number of fisherman trained to more than one thousand since the series began. A final key was the trainers agreeing to work at reduced pay in order to make the books balance. In his remarks at the check presentation ceremony, New Bedford Mayor Scott Lang announced the city's intention to mount one more training session before winter sets in, with the New Bedford Harbor Development Commission taking the lead.

SMAST welcomed a dozen incoming students on Tuesday with a day of orientation activities, capped off by a “get-to-know-us” cook-out at the SMAST I facility in New Bedford. The fall 2009 class, roughly split between the Department of Fisheries Oceanography and the Department of Estuarine and Ocean Sciences, is an international group, including students from China, Greece, India, Israel, Mexico, and South Africa. There are also two students in the cohort with Fulbright scholarships, making a total of four Fulbright scholars currently pursuing master’s or doctoral degrees at SMAST. Said Associate Dean Avijit Gangopadhyay, "We’re gratified that the Fulbright scholars have chosen SMAST as their graduate institution among the many excellent options available to them in the U.S. This is a clear indication of SMAST’s growing worldwide recognition in the marine science and technology fields.”

On August 1st, Dr. John W. Farrington assumed the position of Interim Dean of SMAST, taking over for Dr. Frank Muller-Karger, who stepped down after two years to return to the University of South Florida to dedicate full time to his scientific research program. Dr. Farrington's ties with UMass Dartmouth go back to his undergraduate days. He completed both bachelor's and master's degrees in chemistry at Southeastern Massachusetts Technological Institute/Southeastern Massachusetts University (predecessor to UMassD) before taking his doctorate at the Graduate School of Oceanography, University of Rhode Island. He spent the bulk of his distinguished career at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution in a succession of positions from postdoctoral investigator to Senior Scientist (now Scientist Emeritus), and leadership positions culminating in Vice President for Academic Programs and Dean. Dr. Farrington will lead SMAST for the coming year, while the university conducts a search for a permanent dean. [Click here for Dr. Farrington's biographical sketch and CV.]

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