About Us

U.S. National Office for Harmful Algal Blooms

The Harmful Algae web pages are maintained by the U.S. National Office for Harmful Algal Blooms with funding from the NOAA Center for Sponsored Coastal Ocean Research. The Harmful Algal Bloom and Hypoxia Research and Control Act (HABHRCA) authorizes several components that constitute a National Program for Harmful Algal Bloom (HAB) Research.  The National Program for Harmful Algal Bloom Research is currently implemented through two competitive extramural research programs of NOAA's Center for Sponsored Coastal Ocean Research (CSCOR), the Ecology and Oceanography of Harmful Algal Blooms (ECOHAB) and the Monitoring and Event Response for Harmful Algal Blooms (MERHAB).  CSCOR has established the U. S. National Office for Harmful Algal Blooms to provide critical coordination and technical support capabilities that enhance the Nation's ability to respond to and manage the growing threat posed by HABs.  It also provides liaison with the scientific community and related programs nationally and internationally.


Donald M. Anderson

Donald M. Anderson is a Senior Scientist in the Biology Department of the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, where he also serves as the Director of WHOI’s Coastal Ocean Institute. He earned a doctorate from MIT in 1977 and joined the scientific staff at WHOI in 1978.  In 1993, he was awarded the Stanley W. Watson Chair for Excellence in Oceanography, in 1999 was named a NOAA Environmental Hero, and in 2006 received the Yasumoto Lifetime Achievement Award from the International Society for the Study of Harmful Algae (ISSHA).

Anderson’s research focus is on toxic or harmful algal blooms (HABs). His research ranges from molecular and cellular studies of toxin genetics and regulation to the large-scale oceanography and ecology of the “blooms” of these micro-organisms.

He serves as Director of the U.S. National Office Harmful Algal Blooms, located at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. He also serves as an advisor to several foreign countries and international aid organizations on red tides, algal blooms, and HABs.

     » Visit the Anderson Lab website

Acknowledgements

The original Harmful Algae webpage was created in 1997 under the direction of Don Anderson. We thank Bruce Keafer for his efforts in developing this page and maintaining it for a number of years.  We also thank Judy Kleindinst for her work as webmaster since 1999.   Special thanks to Katie Shaughnessy, Northeastern University co-op student, who worked with us to redesign and revise content for this page in 2007. We also thank the Graphics Department (specifically Katherine Joyce who designed the banner and style sheets) and the web development group (specifically Danielle Fino and Adam Shepherd) for their help and guidance in this redesign.  We also appreciate the many individuals who have sent us images or provided content for these pages.



Last updated: May 31, 2011