University of Southern Maine

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Professor Evan Richert of the USM Muskie School recognized with 2008 Visionary Award from the Gulf of Maine Council

June 27, 2008

At a meeting today at the Gulf of Maine Research Institute hosted by the Gulf of Maine Ocean Observing System, former State Planning Director and current USM Muskie School of Public Service Professor Evan Richert was honored by his colleagues for his leadership in marine science and ocean observing systems.

USM Senior Research Scientist Lewis Incze, Richert’s long-time colleague and chief scientist of the Gulf of Maine Census of Marine Life said,  “Evan came from a background far afield from marine science, yet had the vision and skills to bring together the people and the resources needed to work toward ecosystem management in the Gulf of Maine.”

Philip Bogden of the Gulf of Maine Ocean Observing System says of Richert,  “We wouldn’t be here today if it weren’t for Evan. He is the best thing since digital data.”

Don Perkins, president of the Gulf of Maine Research Institute, likened Richert to the legendary Henry Bigelow, founder of modern oceanography, “No single individual has had as significant an impact on marine science in New England since Henry Bryant Bigelow.” 

The nomination form was signed by former Governor Angus King, and University of Maine System Chancellor Richard L. Pattenaude, among others. The nomination form is available at: http://www.usm.maine.edu/mcr/news/0708releases/vision.pdf

The Gulf of Maine Census of Marine Life, housed at USM at the Gulf of Maine Research Institute, is one of fourteen field projects of the international Census of Marine Life (CoML), and was selected as the ecosystem pilot study for CoML. The goal of this program is to gain enough knowledge to enable ecosystem-based management in a large marine environment. The program will advance knowledge of both biodiversity and ecological processes over a range of habitats and food-chain levels, from plankton to whales.

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