2002 Wiese Distinguished Lecturer – Coral Reef Ecologist Dr. Peter Glynn
The faculty of The University of South Alabama's (USA) Department of Marine Sciences and the Sea Lab were pleased to announce the selection of Dr. Peter W. Glynn to be the ninth participant in the Pete and Marty Wiese Distinguished Lecture Series. This endowed lecture series, which began in 1994, is a gift from Fairhope resident Mr. Peter Wiese, a generous supporter of marine science at USA and the Sea Lab.
Dr. Glynn is a Professor of Marine Biology and Fisheries in the University of Miami's Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science. His selection was based on his sustained record of research excellence in the field of coral reef

 
Dr. Peter Glynn (l) receives a dolphin sculpture from lecture series benefactor Pete Wiese (Photo by Richard Aronson)
 ecology.

Among his many national and international awards are the Charles Darwin Medal for Reef Studies; Sigma Xi Scientist-of-the-Year Medal; and his designation as Scholar-in-Residence, National Center for Caribbean Coral Reef Research.

The purpose of the Wiese Lecture Series is to bring a world-class scientist to Mobile and Dauphin Island each year so that the graduate students can meet, chat and interact with him/her. The professor selected is also presents a lecture to the general public about his/her field specialty in order to arouse public interest in the issues of marine science.

Dr. Glynn filled the bill on both counts, spending an invigorating week with the student and faculty and giving a well-received lecture at USA. His talk, "Global Coral Reef Decline: Causes and Consequences," stimulated a rousing Q&A session on global warming, human impacts and other issues of environmental concern.