Commencement

Academic Convocation & Commencement

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	Enlarge ImageMIT/WHOI Joint Program graduates at September 2005 ceremonies (T. Kleindinst, WHOI)
	2005 Commencement Speaker Patricio Bernal Assistant Director General, UNESCO, Executive Secretary, Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission

WHOI Holds Commencement Exercises in Celebration of 75th Anniversary

Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution held commencement ceremonies on September 24, 2005 awarding 34 masters and doctoral degrees in ocean science and ocean engineering as part of the Institution’s Joint Graduate Program with the Massachusetts Institution of Technology. Commencement ceremonies for the Joint Program are normally held annually at MIT and only in Woods Hole during anniversary years. The exercises were held here because it is the 75^th anniversary of the Institution.

Commencement activities began with a day-long symposium on the oceans and education September 23, attended by graduates and alumni, and other informal events. Earlier in the week several hundred attended an anniversary science symposium highlighting some of the Institution’s contributions to ocean science during its history, particularly in air-sea exchange, climate change, life in the ocean, mid-ocean ridges, observing the ocean and ocean circulation.

Twenty-two degree recipients were in attendance to receive their degrees which included Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy. To date, 722 degrees have been awarded through the joint graduate program, and WHOI has awarded four Ph.D. degrees on its own for a total of 726. This year’s ceremonies also recognized alumni/ae who have graduated since June 2000.

Dr. Patricio Bernal, Executive Secretary of the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) and an Assistant Director-General of United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) since 1998, was commencement speaker. He is author of many papers and book chapters in the international scientific literature and serves on the editorial boards of four international scientific journals. In his current position at IOC, he serves on several international committees dealing with ocean, coasts and islands issues and has become one of the leading advocates for the establishment of the Global Ocean Observing System (GOOS), the major program of IOC.

Afternoon Activities

A buffet luncheon for all attendees was held immediately following the commencement exercises on McKee Ballfield. A career discussion between the Joint Program alumni and recent graduates was held following the luncheon.