A Celebration of Influential Professionals
On Monday 10 March 2014, just before Rick Spinrad, PhD, CMarSci, from the Maritime Technology Society held his keynote speech at the Catch the Next Wave conference in London, UK, awards were presented to several influential professionals in the maritime industry. The accolades were awarded as follows: Rick Spinrad received the OI Lifetime Achievement Award, Roger Scrivens of RS Aqua was named as AMSI Business Person of the Year, and Dr Colin Grant (now retired from BP) received the Alan Greig Memorial Prize.
OI Lifetime Achievement Award
The Oceanology International Lifetime Achievement Award was awarded to Dr Richard W. (Rick) Spinrad, PhD, CMarSci. In 2010, Rick Spinrad became vice president for research at Oregon State University (OSU) where he has oversight of the university’s quarter-billion-dollar research enterprise. Prior to joining OSU, Dr Spinrad built up a long list of achievements in various occupations, including as assistant administrator for research at NOAA where he directed the agency’s programmes in oceanography, atmospheric science and climate. He led the White House Committee that developed the nation’s first set of ocean research priorities and oversaw the revamping of NOAA’s research enterprise. He also served as the Department of Commerce representative to the Office of Science and Technology Policy committee addressing scientific integrity. He currently chairs the Congressionally mandated Federal Advisory Committee on Ocean Observations, and is president of the Board of the Oregon Unmanned Aerial Systems Business Enterprise. In addition to his NOAA stint, Dr Spinrad has served as a research director with the U.S. Navy (Office of Naval Research and Oceanographer of the Navy), taught at two universities, directed a major national non-profit organisation, presided over a private company, and worked as a research scientist. He is the recipient of Presidential Rank Awards from U.S. Presidents George W. Bush and Barack H. Obama. Dr Spinrad is the past-president of the Oceanography Society and president-elect of the Marine Technology Society. He is also a fellow of the American Meteorological Society, the Institute of Marine Engineering, Science and Technology, and the Marine Technology Society and is MTS president elect. The Oceanology International Lifetime Achievement Award honours the lifetime achievements of a person who is acknowledged as an international expert in the field of oceanology and marine science.
AMSI Business Person of the Year
The annual Association of Marine Scientific Industries (AMSI) Business Person of the Year Award was presented to Mr Roger Scrivens, founder and managing director of RS Aqua, by Mr Richard Burt, chairman of the AMSI Council of the Society of Maritime Industries. Richard Burt explained that the award is designed to recognise the individual who, in the opinion of the adjudicating panel, has made a significant contribution to the business of marine science and technology in the UK. Roger Scrivens has worked in the oceanographic and instrumentation industry for 40 years, 31 of which at the head of his company. Even in a company with such a long pedigree, Roger’s entrepreneurial spirit remains undiminished and the company has seen significant growth in the past year, with the introduction of a calibration and service centre, major additions to RS Aqua’s portfolio and a move to new premises.
Alan Greig Memorial Prize
Colin Grant was awarded the Alan Greig Memorial Prize for outstanding contribution to commercial operational oceanography. “Colin has made a tremendous contribution to meeting the operational oceanographic needs of the offshore industry at the same time as contributing his time and energy to the development of the field and to mentoring those starting a career in metocean engineering,” said Professor Ralph Rayner. Colin joined BP in 1984 working as a metocean specialist in the Ocean Engineering branch. He was involved in developing design and operational criteria for BP globally. Highlights during that time included the work to establish the design basis for the Foinaven and Schiehallion projects in the mid 1990s. In 2002, Colin became heavily involved with the Institute of Marine Engineering, Science and Technology (IMarEST). He was invited to assist in the marine science side of the institute’s activities and was made a vice president in 2008. He also chaired the Membership Committee of the institute and is a key contributor to the institute’s highly successful Metocean Awareness courses.
