I am very happy to report that the winner of the 2009 Kenneth S. Norris Career Achievement Award is Dr. Sam H. Ridgway.  This award was established in honor of the Society’s founding president as an acknowledgement of exemplary lifetime contributions to science and society through research, teaching, and service in marine mammal science. The award is granted every second year, in association with the Society’s Biennial Conference.

Sam has made an enormous contribution to our field, from his pioneering work on the physiology of marine mammals, to studies of marine mammal medicine and, more recently, the effects of anthropogenic sound on marine mammals.  We are honored to recognize Sam’s contribution to our field in this way.  As this year’s honoree, Sam delivered a plenary lecture at the Biennial Conference in Quebec City and will write an associated paper for Marine Mammal Science.  Please join me in congratulating Dr. Sam Ridgway on this award.

Sam Ridgway (center) with Andy Read (left) and Mike Hammill (right) at the 2009 biennial conference in Québec City, Canada