News Release 07-074
Mark Abbott of Oregon State University to Become NSF Assistant Director for Geosciences
Mark Abbott of Oregon State University will become NSF Assistant Director for Geosciences.
July 10, 2007
This material is available primarily for archival purposes. Telephone numbers or other contact information may be out of date; please see current contact information at media contacts.
National Science Foundation (NSF) Director Arden L. Bement, Jr. has named Mark Abbott of Oregon State University (OSU) as NSF assistant director for Geosciences. He will assume his new NSF position on October 1, 2007.
Abbott is currently dean of the College of Oceanic and Atmospheric Sciences and professor of biological oceanography at OSU. Abbott, who joined OSU in 1988, became dean in 2001.
"We at NSF are extremely pleased to welcome Mark Abbott," said NSF Director Arden Bement. "In his position as Dean at OSU and as a practicing biological oceanographer, he has worked with scientists in geosciences directorate fields throughout the country and the world and is uniquely positioned for this leadership post."
In his new capacity, Abbott will oversee the Geosciences Directorate (GEO), which has a fiscal year 2007 budget of $744.85 million and supports research in the atmospheric, earth and ocean sciences.
GEO funds basic research that contributes to a better understanding of the processes that affect the global environment, such as the role of the atmosphere and oceans in climate, Earth's water cycle, and the importance of natural variability and the effects of increased greenhouse gases to the atmosphere. Better prediction and understanding of natural environmental hazards such as earthquakes, tornadoes, hurricanes and tsunamis is also a GEO focus.
Abbott has been a member of the National Science Board, co-chair of Oregon Governor Ted Kulongoski's Climate Change Integration Group, and a member of the board of trustees of the Consortium for Ocean Leadership.
His research focuses on the interaction of biological and physical processes in the upper ocean, and relies on both remote sensing and field observations. Abbott is a pioneer in the use of satellite ocean color data to study coupled biological and physical processes.
"Abbott is a recognized national figure in the field, and this appointment to the leadership team at NSF is testimony to his personal strengths and professional excellence," said Sabah Randhawa, OSU Provost. "His leadership is characterized by hiring the best and brightest scientists in the country, and by creating a mentoring system that encouraged success by new faculty members."
Abbott holds a bachelor of science degree in conservation of natural resources from the University of California at Berkeley and a doctorate in ecology from the University of California at Davis. He formerly held positions with the Scripps Institution of Oceanography in La Jolla, Calif., and the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, Calif.
-NSF-
Media Contacts
Cheryl Dybas, NSF, (703) 292-7734, email: cdybas@nsf.gov
Luanne Lawrence, OSU, (541) 737-4875, email: luanne.lawrence@oregonstate.edu
Related Websites
NSF Directorate for Geosciences: http://www.nsf.gov/dir/index.jsp?org=GEO
OSU Administrative Leadership/Mark Abbott: http://oregonstate.edu/leadership/coas/
The U.S. National Science Foundation propels the nation forward by advancing fundamental research in all fields of science and engineering. NSF supports research and people by providing facilities, instruments and funding to support their ingenuity and sustain the U.S. as a global leader in research and innovation. With a fiscal year 2023 budget of $9.5 billion, NSF funds reach all 50 states through grants to nearly 2,000 colleges, universities and institutions. Each year, NSF receives more than 40,000 competitive proposals and makes about 11,000 new awards. Those awards include support for cooperative research with industry, Arctic and Antarctic research and operations, and U.S. participation in international scientific efforts.
Connect with us online
NSF website: nsf.gov
NSF News: nsf.gov/news
For News Media: nsf.gov/news/newsroom
Statistics: nsf.gov/statistics/
Awards database: nsf.gov/awardsearch/
Follow us on social
Twitter: twitter.com/NSF
Facebook: facebook.com/US.NSF
Instagram: instagram.com/nsfgov