Abstract:
The GFD Program in 2008 ran with a special theme, in view of the 50th
anniversary of the beginning of the program. The first two weeks of Principal
Lectures dealt with "Perspectives and Challenges" of the subject, and we
commemorated by having ten different lecturers with a diversity of viewpoints and
opinions. Though the lectures thereby took less of a pedagogical flavour, each
afternoon we saw the fellows grill the lecturers in informal afternoon tutorials.
Also by way of celebration, the Oceanographic Institution threw a 50th
anniversary party in honour of the Program and the "Founding Fathers." This was
held on one of the lawns in front of Walsh Cottage on Friday, June 27th. We saw a
variety of familiar faces, some from the very first years of the Program, others from
more recent summers. George Veronis and Jack Whitehead read short pieces about
the past fifty years, including the unveiling of the "2008 AGU Award for Excellence
in Geophysical Education" awarded to the Program by the American Geophysical
Union. The party was skillfully organized by Janet Fields and uniformly enjoyed by
all.
In 2008 the Sears Public Lecture was delivered by Andy Ingersoll (CalTech) and
entitled "Weather and Climates of Other Worlds: Lessons for Earth." Andy, a
participant of the program for many years, described the insights that could be
drawn regarding our own climate from observing those of the other planets in the
solar system, observations made particularly clear and compelling by recent space
missions. Over a hundred people gathered at Redfield for the lecture, many of whom
paused afterwards to enjoy conversation and refreshments at the reception that
followed.
Other novelties at the 2008 program included Bill Dewar's delivery of a seminar
at Walsh in full Scottish regalia, kilt and all. Last, and of course most importantly,
we had an industrious group of fellows who rose to the challenge of the Program and
contributed tremendously to the anniversary. As always, the WHOI Academic
Programs Office and the Physical Oceanography Department provided the
administrative backbone to the summer, and Walsh Cottage was perfectly
unchanged in its intimacy and rustic atmosphere. Jeanne Fleming, Penny Foster
and Janet Fields contributed importantly to the smooth running of the program.
