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Monday, April 21, 2008 Former Scripps Oceanography Director Recognized as 'Ambassador for the Planet' Charlie Kennel Honored April 20 for Environmental Stewardship by the Wyland Foundation Scripps Institution of Oceanography / University of California, San Diego  Charlie Kennel Kennel, who served from 1997-2006 as Scripps' ninth director and vice chancellor of marine sciences, was among nine recipients recognized with the inaugural award during a special ceremony at Birch Aquarium at Scripps. Other honorees included former Vice President Al Gore, pioneering oceanographer Sylvia Earle and actress and environmental activist Hayden Panettiere. Earle was present at the ceremony. A distinguished professor of atmospheric sciences at Scripps, Kennel recognized the importance of water issues and was instrumental in creating and supporting the Wyland Clean Water Challenge, an art and science program aimed at inspiring conservation. Established in 1998, the program is co-sponsored by Birch Aquarium at Scripps and reaches millions of U.S. schoolchildren each year. Best known for its massive Whaling Wall campaign, a series of 100 life-size murals of marine life, the Wyland Foundation is a non-profit organization that aims to inspire others to care about the oceans and related aquatic ecosystems. Founded in 1993 by marine life artist Wyland, the foundation encourages involvement in conservation through classroom education programs, community service and art in public places. # # # Note to broadcast and cable producers: University of California, San Diego provides an on-campus satellite uplink facility for live or pre-recorded television interviews. Please phone or e-mail the media contact listed above to arrange an interview. Scripps Institution of Oceanography, at University of California, San Diego, is one of the oldest, largest and most important centers for global science research and education in the world. The National Research Council has ranked Scripps first in faculty quality among oceanography programs nationwide Now in its second century of discovery, the scientific scope of the institution has grown to include biological, physical, chemical, geological, geophysical and atmospheric studies of the earth as a system. Hundreds of research programs covering a wide range of scientific areas are under way today in 65 countries. The institution has a staff of about 1,300, and annual expenditures of approximately $155 million from federal, state and private sources. Scripps operates one of the largest U.S. academic fleets with four oceanographic research ships and one research platform for worldwide exploration. |
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