April 17, 1996 Contact: Amy Adams or Robert Irion (408) 459-2495; irion@ua.ucsc.edu

UCSC'S "OUTSTANDING FACULTY AWARD" IN THE SCIENCES GOES TO OCEANOGRAPHER

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

SANTA CRUZ, CA--Oceanographer Mary Silver has received the "outstanding faculty award" for 1995-96 from her peers in the Natural Sciences Division at UC Santa Cruz. The annual award honors excellence in three areas: research, teaching, and service to the campus, scientific organizations, and the public.

Silver, a professor of marine sciences, focuses her research on oceanic particles called "marine snow." These falling bits of detritus carry food from shallow waters to scavengers of the deep. Silver collaborates with researchers at the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute, where she uses remotely operated vehicles to get an up-close look at the tadpole-like larvaceans that produce much of the falling marine snow. Larvaceans secrete sticky mucus nets to trap passing bits of food. When done feeding, they release their gooey "homes," which plummet to the ocean floor. The mucus nets carry with them leftover food scraps and a whole community of planktonic decomposers feasting on the remains.

In recognition of her innovative research, Silver shared the prestigious Henry Bryant Bigelow Medal in Oceanography in 1992, an award given just once every four years. She also received a rare accomplishment-based renewal of a grant from the National Science Foundation.

Students have consistently praised Silver's teaching as outstanding in a variety of courses, from introductory biology to a specialized graduate course in marine plankton. One recent student wrote, "Mary is the best instructor I've had yet." In 1991, the UCSC Alumni Association selected Silver as one of several recipients of the "Favorite Professor Award."

Silver has actively supported women in science. Duke University selected her as its first "Women in Earth and Marine Science Distinguished Lecturer," and she has lectured at other campuses on issues faced by women pursuing scientific careers.

Silver earned her Ph.D. in 1971 from the Scripps Institution of Oceanography at UC San Diego and joined the UCSC faculty in 1972. She was chair of the Marine Sciences Board of Studies from 1992 to 1995.

This release is also available on the World Wide Web at UCSC's "Services for Journalists" site (http://www.ucsc.edu/news/journalist.html).

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