Gary Wikfors
Voices from the Science Centers
Voices from the Science Centers is an oral history initiative dedicated to documenting the institutional knowledge of fisheries scientists and administrators in the labs of NOAA’s Fisheries Science Centers.
Gary Wikfors was born in Weehawken, NJ. After receiving his B.S. in biology at the University of Maine, Wikfors became interested in phycology. He began working at the Milford Laboratory in 1976 while earning his Master's at the University of Bridgeport. He later earned his PhD at the University of Connecticut while continuing to work at the lab. He is now the Branch Chief of the Aquaculture Sustainability Assessment Branch at the Milford Lab.
Interview contains discussions of: phycology, 20/20 program, aquaculture sustainability, pollution, collaboration with other scientists, ecosystems, shellfish, biochemical nutrition, toxic algae, ocean acidification and climate change.
Gary Wikfors discusses the unique way in which he began his career at the Milford Lab. The interview also touches on changes at the lab during his career, his emphasis on team approaches with staff and his research in aquaculture and phycology.
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