PROFESSIONAL SEAFARING: Early Years on the Research Vessel Inland Seas

This is the research vessel Inland Seas operated by the U. of Michigan Great Lakes Research Division in the 1960s and 70s, one of four UM boats I worked on as an undergrad and graduate student technician in the summers from 1962-65. This photo was taken by Steve Schneider, who graciously allowed me to use it as the cover photo on my novel Halcyon Fury.

Here I was operating the oceanographic winch on the Inland Seas the summer after my sophomore year of college, 1962. Almost back in the days when “ships were wood and men were steel,” and women were virtually absent on research ships (fortunately no longer the case).

Grad Student Research Tech, Lake Michigan

A grad student tech on the RV Inland Seas in 1965, I am at left of center (hat on) wrestling the 250 lb coring rig on Lake Michigan.

At left, operating the winch for a Nansen bottle water sampling cast

At left, operating the winch for a plankton net cast

On the “hero board” of the RV Mysis with an oceanographic bathythermograph

At left, operating the benthic animal screener for a bottom sample

At left, on the Mysis operating the “bear trap” Smith-MacIntyre bottom sampler

Naval Oceanography

After my MS I took a position as a biological oceanographer with the U.S. Naval Oceanographic Office in suburban Washington, D.C., 1966-69. There I met and married Lynn, also an oceanographer at NAVOCEANO.

On the hero board with a plankton net on the U.S. Naval Ship Sands in the Sargasso Sea (North Atlantic), 1966

My PhD Research Years

I was a doctoral student at Michigan State University’s Kellogg Biological Station from 1969-73. This is one of my field experiments on photorespiration in aquatic plants.

Nearing completion of my Ph.D. in 1973, I was invited to join the NSF Alpha Helix Great Barrier Reef Photorespiration Expedition. This is the Alpha Helix anchored off Lizard Island, Australia. I was there for four weeks.

Running a photorespiration experiment with a seagrass on the fantail of the Alpha Helix

Teaching Limnology (Freshwater Ecology)

In 1973 I joined the biological sciences faculty at Wayne State University, Detroit, where I taught and researched until 2007. Over those years I published 29 scientific journal articles and book chapters in marine and freshwater ecology, and directed 9 doctoral and 4 master students.

One of my early limnology classes in the mid-seventies. I am in the goofy Aussie hat trying to get control over the chaos.

Heading out for a limnology class field trip at WSU’s field station in the Upper Peninsula, early 1980s

My limnology students taking a lake water sample

My Grad Students

At center, celebrating after my first doctoral student’s dissertation defense (seated below me)

My grad student running an algal photorespiration experiment

My grad students setting up a phytoplankton nutrient enrichment experiment

Wayne State University 2000s

Aboard a Grand Valley State research vessel during a research conference in Muskegon, MI, 2001

My two last doctoral students celebrating my WSU President’s Excellence in Teaching award, 2002

My last limnology class, East Graham Lake, MI, fall 2006

My doctoral and master’s graduates celebrating my retirement, 2007 (they came to Detroit from as far away as the Philippines, Seattle, and Washington, D.C).  I remain Professor Emeritus, and continue to review manuscripts for journal editors.