Posted on: Monday, July 5, 2004

Salutes

Advertiser Staff

Oceanographer to be honored

Microbial biologist and oceanographer David Karl of the University of Hawai'i is scheduled to receive the prestigious Henry Bryant Bigelow Award this fall.

"David Karl's accomplishments have revolutionized our view of microorganisms in the ocean," said Bigelow Medal Committee Chair John Hayes of the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, the award's sponsor. "By developing projects that have attracted numerous co-workers and by sharing all of the observations through freely accessible databases as well as by publishing more than 240 research papers, he has amplified his impact and become one of the leading figures in oceanography."

His early studies focused on developing methods for estimating microbial activity and biomass in natural habitats to help to establish a Long-Term Ecological Research site near Palmer Station in Antarctica. He also studied hydrothermal vents in the deep ocean. For the past 16 years, he has led sustained oceanographic measurements at the Hawaii Ocean Time-Series station, a long-term study of the regulation of the ocean ecosystem at a key location off Hawai'i.

• The University of Hawai'i has selected its employee and employee team to be nominated for the 2004 Governor's Awards for Distinguished State Service. They will compete with employees from other government agencies for statewide honors.

Richard Chock was selected to represent UH as Employee of the Year for his dedication and service to Kewalo Marine Laboratory. Nominators cited his skill in repairing a wide array of scientific equipment and his talent for designing and fabricating custom scientific equipment, often from scratch.

The Windward Community College operations and maintenance team of Xavier Chang, James McCumber, Freddie Gamayo and Isaac Chang was nominated for the ability to maintain Windward Community College's 40 acres of building and ground with limited manpower resources.

Richard Chock is also one of three selected to receive this year's Chancellor's Awards for Outstanding Service from the University of Hawai'i. He is the facilities manager for the Kewalo Basin Marine Lab. He is responsible for keeping the physical plant in top operating condition.

Other recipients include:

• Joanne Kurosawa, secretary, College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources, Department of Molecular Science and Bioengineering. A 30- year veteran of the College, she is described by her nominators as "energetic, unselfish, dependable, organized, knowledgeable and a team player." She is involved in a great number of outreach programs and frequently volunteers time and talent to assist with various projects.

• Stanley Yogi, custodial employee, Department of Buildings and Grounds Management, assigned to the College of Business Administration. Yogi has been a prime reason for the "greening" of the business college environment, assisting with plantings and making sure that plants thrive, even taking the initiative to secure a sprinkler on his own to water and nourish a previously brown and "spotty" hillside. He is responsible for clean restrooms in the complex and maintains the safety of the area by assuring the trees and ornamental plants are properly trimmed.