Dr. Scott Nixon

Nitrogen Cycling Topic of Ketchum Award Lecture

September 10, 1992
WHOI Newletter

Dr. Scott Nixon, a professor of oceanography and Director of the Rhode Island Sea Grant program at the University of Rhode Island (URI), received the Institution's Bostwick H. Ketchum Award September 10.

Nixon's award lecture was entitled "Changing Nutrient Inputs and the History of Primary Productivity in Narragansett Bay." He discussed such historical changes as the transition from outhouses to indoor plumbing and from horses to automobiles as examples of changing nutrient inputs to the bay.

Senior Associate Director and Director of Research Bob Gagosian presented Nixon with a certificate which cited "his innovative research in ecology and nutrient cycling in the coastal environment, and his effective synthesis of scientific results for fellow scientists, students and resource managers."

During his two-day visit to WHOI Nixon spoke with numerous staff members and students at WHOI and at the Marine Biological Laboratory's Ecosystems Center.

"It's unusual to find a person who appeals to such a broad range of interests," Joint Program student Paul Snelgrove said. "He spoke with students from various disciplines, not just biologists, and discussed not only his own research but scientists' involvement in policy making and other topics." Snelgrove served as student host during Nixon's visit.

"Scott Nixon's work is very well regarded ," Associate Scientist Cabell Davis said. "He's been a source of inspiration to students who have gone on to very successful careers in ecology and biological oceanography."

The award was established in 1983 in tribute to the late Bostwick "Buck" Ketchum, an intemationally respected oceanographer associated with WHOI for 40 years. Ketchum was a strong force in developing biological oceanography.