|
|
 Thursday, November 6, 2008 Obituary Notice: International Marine Science Leader: Warren S. Wooster Scripps Institution of Oceanography / University of California, San Diego Former Scripps Institution of Oceanography at UC San Diego Professor Warren S. Wooster, a distinguished scientist and international marine science leader, died on Oct. 29, 2008, in Seattle, Wash. Wooster, who was 87, died in his sleep. Warren S. Wooster. After earning his Ph.D., Wooster participated in the early stages of the California Cooperative Oceanic Fisheries Investigations (CalCOFI), the highly regarded, long-running marine monitoring program based at Scripps. With his expertise in ocean chemistry, Wooster operated the program by teaming with Scripps physical oceanographer Joe Reid and biologist Ed Brinton. His Scripps leadership included direction of expeditions such as the Transpac Expedition to Japan in 1953 and Step-1 to South America in 1960. "Warren S. Wooster turned his expertise on the currents of the deep ocean toward international solutions to sticky problems, especially in fisheries and cooperative researches," wrote Elizabeth Noble Shor in her book: "Scripps Institution of Oceanography: Probing the Oceans 1936 to 1976."  Warren Wooster planning the Transpac expedition in 1953. Born in Westfield, Mass., on Feb. 20, 1921, Wooster received a bachelor's degree from Brown University in 1943 and a master's degree from the California Institute of Technology in 1947. He was chairman of the Scripps Graduate Department from 1967 to 1969. In 1973 Wooster left Scripps to become the director of the University of Miami's Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science. From 1976 to 1991 he was a professor of marine studies and fisheries at the School of Marine Affairs of the University of Washington, where he retired as an emeritus professor. "He was an efficient but tactful, persuasive and patient negotiator on many planes, not easily discouraged by adversity, and trusted by students and colleagues at home and abroad," said Karl Banse, an emeritus professor at the University of Washington and former colleague of Wooster's. "Warren was a great teacher, wonderful friend and admirable human being."  Warren Wooster (left) and Roger Revelle at the departure for the Transpac Expedition, 1953. Wooster was the principal founder of the North Pacific Marine Science Organization of 1992 (PICES, for Pacific ICES) and served as its first chairman (1992-96). He was a fellow of the American Geophysical Union and the American Meteorological Society. Wooster is survived by Polly, his wife of 60 years, and their three children, Sue, Dana and Dan, seven grandchildren and one great grandchild (and another on the way). A memorial service has been scheduled for Nov. 16 at the University of Washington Club on the University of Washington campus. # # # 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. |
|
