Mark R. Abbott
NASA Oral Histories
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Dr. Mark R. Abbott is a distinguished scholar and administrator in the field of Earth System Science. He began his academic journey at the University of California, Berkeley, where he combined his interest in the environment with his abilities in math, leading him to the field of ecological modeling. He continued his studies at the University of California, Davis, where he worked with Tom Powell, a high-energy physicist studying Lake Tahoe. After completing his PhD, Dr. Abbott received a postdoctoral fellowship from the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) to work with Ken Denman at the Institute of Ocean Sciences in Canada. His work focused on analyzing the patterns of variance in phytoplankton and comparing that with the physical dynamics in the ocean. Dr. Abbott has served as a dean and a professor at the College of Oceanic and Atmospheric Sciences at Oregon State University (OSU) in Corvallis, Oregon. Under his leadership, the college has become a research-intensive institution, with 90 percent of its funding coming from the federal government through competitive grants and contracts.
Scope and Content Note
This interview with Dr. Mark R. Abbott, conducted by Jennifer Ross-Nazzal on June 22, 2009, provides a comprehensive overview of Dr. Abbott's career and contributions to the field of Earth System Science. The interview was conducted as part of the Earth System Science at 20 Oral History Project, which aims to gather experiences from those who have been intimately involved in various efforts in the launch and evolution of Earth System Science. In the interview, Dr. Abbott discusses his academic background, his research interests, and his career trajectory. He talks about his work at OSU, the accomplishments he has seen in the field over the past 20 years, and the challenges of balancing administrative duties with active research. He also discusses his work with the Aqua satellite and the impact of a $10 million grant from NASA on his research. Dr. Abbott provides insights into the evolution of Earth System Science, discussing the shift from a focus on specific locations to a more global perspective. He also reflects on the importance of international coordination in science, citing the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) as a prime example. The interview provides a valuable resource for understanding the development of Earth System Science over the past
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