Name:
Fred Grassle

Position:
Director of the Institute of Marine and Coastal Sciences at Rutgers University

What I do:
I am responsible for managing the scientists and research programs at the Institute. I especially enjoy developing research programs like LEO-15 and my Ocean Biogeographic Information System or OBIS project. OBIS is an on-line digital atlas designed to census marine life and the relationships of the organisms to their environment. It serves as a base for further study of the diversity, distribution, and abundance of marine organisms throughout the world's oceans.

What I like best about my job:
I love to go to sea. Last summer I led a team of researchers and educators to explore the Hudson Canyon. This year I am looking forward to participating in an anniversary cruise to the Galapagos Islands to revisit the site where the first hydrothermal vents were discovered. I also enjoy promoting and shaping the development of undersea observing systems throughout our world's oceans. It is very rewarding to work with a talented group of graduate and undergraduate students. Finally, I really enjoy working with new scientific gadgets such as undersea robots that improve the ways we collect information about the ocean.