Two Graduate School of Oceanography alumni were honored at the URI Distinguished Achievement Awards ceremony on October 17. The awards honor alumni and friends of URI who have brought distinction to themselves and the University through their professional achievements, outstanding leadership and/or community service.

The Graduate School of Oceanography’s Dean’s List Award was presented to Barclay Collins (M.S. ’74, Ph.D. ’78, general manager, Anadarko Petroleum Corp.), who has led successful oil and gas exploration and production and business development projects for Anadarko Petroleum in Africa and the Middle East for more than 20 years. He is based in Mozambique, where Anadarko is developing one of the world’s largest liquefied natural gas projects. His previous overseas assignments included Eritrea and Qatar. Prior to Anadarko, he led research and exploration programs for British Gas, Tenneco Oil and Gulf Oil. He began his professional career in the late 1970s as a research geophysicist, using his expertise in seismic processing and interpretation to develop and apply innovative analytical techniques and technologies for oil and gas exploration. He lives in Houston.

The URI President’s Rising Star Award was presented to Robinson Fulweiler (M.S. ’03, Ph.D. ’07, associate professor, Boston University), who holds appointments in both the Biology Department and the Earth & Environment Department at Boston University, where she has also served as associate director of the university’s Marine Program. Her research focuses on the biogeochemical cycling of nitrogen and other nutrients in aquatic systems like Narragansett Bay and other watersheds in New England. She has already published more than 40 research papers, including one based on her doctoral dissertation, which appeared in the prestigious journal, Nature. She lives in Cambridge, Mass.

Congratulations to both of the awardees on their distinguished achievements!

Photos by Barbara Braatz

Top: Dean Bruce Corliss and Dr. Barclay Collins

Bottom: Dean Bruce Corliss and Dr. Robinson Fulweiler