Department of Biological Sciences Newsletter Volume 3, No. 1; Autumn, 2007 Autumn is always the time of excitement – new faces, new challenges and new opportunities. With classes beginning, new faculty becoming settled in, and the summer research season winding down, the BioDepartment continues to move forward. The Editors (W.O. Smith & J.J. Orth) Faculty Time - with Walker Smith Dr. Walker Smith joined VIMS and our Department in 1998 after spending 22 years at the University of Tennessee. It was during that period where he developed an interest in polar oceanography, and where his work in both the Arctic and Antarctic was initiated. Below are a series of random events that occurred to him during this time that seemed to have a disproportionate impact on his career. ********** In 1976 I joined the faculty at the graduate school, Dave Nelson, had recently University of Tennessee straight from moved from WHOI to Oregon State, and getting my Ph.D. at Duke. In truth, that was also interested in ice-edge processes. “name” helped me a great deal, as I had a So we wrote a proposal to investigate the joint appointment in the Botany ice edge of the Ross Sea. Department and Graduate Program in That sounds simple, but the truth is that it Ecology, and Duke Botany was one of the took 3 years to get the proposal funded, top Botany departments in the US. I didn’t largely because of the conservative nature do a post-doc, so I was a naïve, 25-year old of the funding agency. But we eventually in the mountains. I struggled at first trying were successful and conducted our first to establish a research program, and with field program in the Ross Sea in 1983 – just hindsight would have benefited from some before my tenure and promotion decision! time at a research institute to make Within the next 6 months, I had received additional contacts in the field. In 1977 a another NSF grant to work on the ice edge National Academy meeting was held on the of the Greenland Sea, a Navy grant to do effects of marginal ice zones, and my Ph.D. other work in the Arctic ice, and a third mentor attended. He relayed to me the NSF grant to do productivity/ice edge work dismay of the group with the ongoing in the Scotia/Weddell Seas. And also a research, and presentations of active leave of absence to occupy a funded chair in researchers highlighted pictures of Monterey, California for a year (I spent 6 penguins with few data. When the report months of that year at sea). As often is the was published, it called for a focused case, when it rains it pours, but I had more program on biological processes at ice- money than I had ever imagined to do what edges. A friend and colleague from I really wanted to do. Page 1 In 1988 a book sales representative from English camp. That trip changed my life as Academic Press walked into my office and well, as it fostered a deep interest in the Far asked if I would consider writing a book on East – its history, culture, development, and Polar Oceanography. Still being naïve, I mostly its people. That fascination has led said yes. The book was published in 1990, me to write various proposals to conduct and was quite successful in bringing me research in China, and while I haven’t yet recognition on the international front. I been successful, I believe that it will usher never knew why the salesperson in a new phase of my research career in the approached me, but it was a definite career coming years. boost. The point behind all of this is simple: some In 1993 there were rumblings of a mega- times it isn’t how hard you work, how project in the Southern Ocean – the US smart you are, or how wonderful your CV JGOFS project. For those outside of is. Sometimes life presents opportunities JGOFS, it was viewed as “the old boys that at the time seem insignificant, but can network” and very difficult to become later turn out to be truly life-altering involved. Plus, JGOFS was perceived as events. I think my greatest life-altering dominating funding within chemical and event was going to Duke and working with biological oceanography. But with the Dick Barber. He took this kid who didn’t interest in having a Southern Ocean even eat seafood and turned him into a program, the Office of Polar Programs fledgling oceanographer, but also taught (NSF) wanted someone who could act as a me that being a scientist means a life time bridge to their “constituency” and interact of learning and change. So the next time an with the OCE JGOFS group. As a result, I unusual opportunity crosses your path, was asked to be on the JGOFS Steering remember that it might just take you down Committee, and ultimately co-chaired the a path that you could never, ever predict. AESOPS program in the Ross Sea and Pacific Sector with Bob Anderson of Lamont Doherty Earth Observatory. It was a wonderful challenge and a great chance to meet the top carbon cycling scientists in the world. It was a fantastic way to continue my professional growth! In 1998 I moved to VIMS and was really excited about interacting with marine scientists on a daily basis. I requested and received a professional leave in 2004, and spent it in New Zealand (when I wasn’t at sea). I took some vacation in the summer, Two faces of Dr. and joined a group of teachers who were Smith when not at going to work in China in a summer VIMS. Student Moment: Bethany Eden It seems like I’ve always been interested grandparents. My grandfather especially in science. Some of my favorite childhood loved turning over rocks and logs and memories are of hikes with my chasing after the toads, frogs, turtles, and Page 2 salamanders that lived underneath them, composition and abundance within a just so I could get a closer look at the normally oligotrophic open ocean area. abundance and variety of wildlife that Answers to these questions can provide flourished in the Pennsylvania woods. My important information when looking at grandmother, an avid birdwatcher, did her biogeochemical cycling in the open part by teaching me to recognize birds by ocean. While at VIMS I’ve also had the their song. A family vacation to the New opportunity to assist with Census of Jersey shore was all I needed to convince Marine Life research aboard the RV me I wanted a career in marine science. Delaware II with Dr. Mike Vecchione. Mid- Years later, while in the final months of water trawling at Bear and Physalia my undergraduate career at Rider Seamounts was very interesting and University, a phone call from Dr. Debbie produced some of the largest amphipods Steinberg convinced me I wanted to and salps I’ve ever seen, as well as some continue my education on the graduate unique fish and cephalopods that up until level. Debbie explained the research she that point I had only ever seen in pictures was doing on zooplankton in the Sargasso and on video footage from submersibles. Sea. I didn’t know all that much about My ultimate goal after life at VIMS is to zooplankton, but the thought of collecting enter the education field, teaching all thesis samples aboard a research vessel ages about the marine world. I really feel in the Sargasso Sea sounded like an that science is accessible to all age awesome opportunity. groups and education levels, and that While at Rider, I worked on my senior through education and outreach more thesis with researchers from the people will come to understand how University of Maryland Biotechnology precious a resource the world’s oceans Institute’s Center of Marine Biotech- are. Science doesn’t have to be scary, or nology in Baltimore, Maryland. I was full of big words that are impossible to also fortunate enough to spend time at pronounce, let alone understand. the Roatan Institute of Marine Science I like to tell people I’m just as (RIMS) in Roatan, Honduras. While at comfortable standing on the bow of a RIMS, I was able to get experience in research ship as I am staring down a field-based research and data collection, microscope counting and identifying as well as broaden my horizons exploring zooplankton, but when I’m not doing tropical ecosystems. My research project either of those two things, I enjoy at RIMS focused on the algal feeding spending time with friends and family, preferences of the green reef crab. cooking, traveling, going to the gym, and Hammocks and Caribbean sunsets were playing with my two cats Carter and certainly an added bonus. Isabelle. I have certainly drawn on skills learned in both of these experiences while conducting my thesis research at VIMS. Bethany My research focuses on zooplankton working community structure in mesoscale eddies at night in the Sargasso Sea. My main goal is to with her determine what, if any effects mesoscale friends. eddies have on zooplankton taxonomic Page 3 “The Talking Head: Department Chair Comments” Dear Fellow Biophiles, Once again the summer has flown by and working with him. The new marine we are entering a new academic year. research building, Andrews Hall, is (we The department welcomes our new sincerely hope) not far behind. Latest graduate students and looks forward to reports are that the building is largely getting to know you all in the coming finished with the exception of resolving months.