Scripps Institution of Oceanography pioneer oceanographer Walter Munk and his wife Judith, Rancho Santa Fe residents Maurice and Charmaine Kaplan, and Scripps science engineer Kevin Hardy will be honored as the 1999 recipients of the annual E.W. Scripps Associates Awards at a special presentation at the Birch Aquarium at Scripps in La Jolla on Tuesday evening, Feb. 29, 2000.
The E.W. Scripps Associates is an active membership group dedicated to supporting the goals and mission of Scripps Institution of Oceanography, UCSD.
To recognize outstanding achievement in local community service and in support
of science at Scripps, the associates established annual E.W. Scripps Associates Awards in 1996.
The 1999 "Benefactor of the Year" award will be presented to Charmaine and Maurice Kaplan of Rancho Santa Fe for "their exemplary support of Scripps Institution of Oceanography, and for giving generously of their time, their counsel, and their resources to promote the highest scientific understanding of our oceans and planet."
The Community Outreach award is presented annually to a Scripps scientist
or staff person for outstanding community service. Kevin Hardy will receive the
1999 award for "his unparalleled enthusiasm and unfaltering dedication to scientific discovery; for his innovative mentoring that emboldens and excites children in the pursuit of knowledge; and for his commitment to the mission of Scripps Institution
of Oceanography by communicating his love of science through his inexhaustible outreach efforts."
The third special award acknowledges exceptional leadership in furthering the goals and purposes of Scripps Institution. Judith and Walter Munk will receive the 1999 Leadership award for "their adventurous quest for scientific knowledge, for their unwavering encouragement of young scientists to pursue big dreams and daring ideas, and for their lifelong celebration of the spirit of Scripps Institution of Oceanography."
The E.W. Scripps Associates group was formed several years ago through the efforts of three local residents living near the Scripps campus in La Jolla. Their goal was to actively recruit support for the world-class marine science research and education institution "in their own backyard."
"Scripps Institution of Oceanography is a neighbor that means a lot to us, not only to our neighborhood, but to the whole southern California region, and beyond," said Patrick Kearney, current chairman of the E.W. Scripps Associates.
"We want to reach out into the community and spread the word about the excellent work being done by our neighbors, the scientists at Scripps Institution."
Previous recipients of E. W. Scripps Associates Benefactor awards are Dr. Cecil Green, 1996: Ellen Revelle Eckis, 1997; and Mary Louise and Charlie Robins, 1998. Community Outreach Awards have been presented to Scripps scientists Dr. Ed Frieman, 1996; Dr. Paul Dayton, 1997; and Dr. Dan Cayan, 1998. In addition, a Leadership Award was presented to Peggy and Peter Preuss in 1997.
For more information on the E.W. Scripps Associates program, contact
Scripps Institution of Oceanography at 858/534-8490.
# # #
Scripps Institution of Oceanography, a part of the University of California, San Diego, is one of the oldest, largest, and most important centers for global science research and graduate training in the world. In 1995,
the National Research Council ranked Scripps Institution first in faculty quality among oceanography programs nationwide.The scientific scope of the institution has grown since its founding in 1903 to include biological, physical, chemical, geological, geophysical, and atmospheric studies of the earth as a system. More than 300 research programs are under way today in a wide range of scientific areas. The institution has a staff of about 1,200, and annual expenditures of approximately $100 million, from federal, state, and private sources. Scripps operates the largest academic fleet with four oceanographic research ships for worldwide exploration and one research platform.