Prof. Edward D. Goldberg

First Ketchum Award Presented to Internationally-Known Marine Geochemist

April /May 1984
WHOI Newsletter

The first Bostwick H. Ketchum Award was presented April 30, 1984 by Director John Steele to Dr. Edward D. Goldberg, professor of chemistry at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography and an internationlly-known marine geochemist, in recognition of "his pioneering efforts and continuing leadership in environmental quality research in coastal and open ocean areas of the world." The certificate also noted Dr. Goldberg's "significant contributions to translation of scientific research into the policy-management arenas" and "his infectious excitement about biogeochemical research which has inspired many young ocean scientists."

The highlight of the award ceremony was the lecture by Dr. Goldberg on the "Informational Needs for Ocean Waste Disposal," particularly who makes the decision as to how much information is needed in order to pursue a course of action. He listed his three E's of information levels -- essential, extraneous, and excess -- and gave examples of each.

In closing his speech Dr. Goldberg said, "Dr. Oppenheimer once described himself as a premature anti-fascist. I consider Buck Ketchum a premature environmental scientist who guided us in our pursuits and whose work continues to lead the way [for those in biological/environmental oceanographic research]."

The Bostwick H. Ketchum Award is an endowed lectureship which brings an internationally-recognized scientist to Woods Hole for an annual lecture or supports a longer visit by a younger researcher. The award was established in 1983 as a tribute to the late Bostwick "Buck" Ketchum who passed away in 1982 at age 70. Buck Ketchum was a strong force in the development of biological oceanography in Woods Hole and a respected scientist at the international level. He was associated with WHOI for more than 40 years, retiring in 1977 as Associate Director. At the time of his death he was co-editor of a series of four volumes on ocean dumping, an area in which he carried out pioneering research, entitled "Wastes in the Ocean."

Appropriately, the first lecture in Dr. Ketchum's honor focused on the coastal zone and ocean waste disposal. In introducing the speaker, Dr. John Farrington, Director of WHOI's Coastal Research Center, pointed out Dr. Goldberg's many accomplishments in the study of man's impact on marine ecosystems and his concern with worldwide pollution problems.