Dawn Wright

Dawn Wright
Born (1961-04-15) April 15, 1961 (age 63)
EducationWheaton College (BS)
Texas A&M University (MS)
University of California, Santa Barbara (PhD)
Scientific career
FieldsGeography, Oceanography
InstitutionsEsri
Oregon State University
Doctoral advisorRaymond Smith
Other academic advisorsMichael Frank Goodchild
Kenneth C. Macdonald
Rachel Haymon

Dawn Jeannine Wright (born April 15, 1961) is an American geographer and oceanographer. She is a leading authority in the application of geographic information system (GIS) technology to the field of ocean and coastal science and played a key role in creating the first GIS data model for the oceans.[1] Wright is Chief Scientist of the Environmental Systems Research Institute (Esri).[2] She has also been a professor of geography and oceanography at Oregon State University since 1995 and is a former Oregon Professor of the Year as named by the Council for the Advancement and Support of Education and the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching.[3][4] Wright was the first Black female to dive to the ocean floor in the deep submersible ALVIN.[5][6] On July 12, 2022, she became the first and only Black person to dive to Challenger Deep, the deepest point on Earth, and to successfully operate a side scan sonar at full-ocean depth.[7][8][9]

Early life and education

Wright graduated with a Bachelor of Science cum laude in geology from Wheaton College in 1983, earned a Master of Science in oceanography from Texas A&M University in 1986, and an Individual Interdisciplinary Ph.D. in Physical Geography and Marine Geology from University of California, Santa Barbara in 1994.[10][11][12][13] In 2007, she received a Distinguished Alumna Award from UCSB[14] and was also a commencement speaker for UCSB College of Letters and Science.[15]

Career

Wright's research interests include mapping of seafloor spreading zones and coral reefs, spatial analysis and geographic information systems as applied to the marine environment. Wright co-edited one of the first books on marine GIS[16] and is widely known as one of the most influential researchers within her fields.[17][18][19] Another influential work is an article published in 1997,[20] which was widely cited for its analysis of the perception of GIS among geographers in the early 1990s.[21]

Wright began her career as a seagoing marine technician for the Ocean Drilling Program, sailing on ten 2-month expeditions from 1986 to 1989 aboard the JOIDES Resolution, mostly throughout the Indian and Pacific Oceans.[22][23][24] Her most prominent service has included the National Academy of Sciences Ocean Studies Board,[25] the Science Advisory Board of NOAA,[26] the Science Advisory Board of the EPA,[27] the National Council of the American Association of Geographers, and Research Chair and Board Member of the University Consortium for Geographic Information Science.[28] A strong advocate of STEM as well as science communication, she has been profiled by outlets such as (www.womenoceanographers.org),[29] The Oceanography Society,[30] The Atlantic,[31] NOAA's Sea Grant Program,[32] NOAA's National Marine Sanctuaries Program,[33] Science magazine,[34] Harvard Design magazine,[35] Environment, Coastal & Offshore (ECO) magazine,[36] The HistoryMakers,[37] Let Science Speak,[38] COMPASS Blogs,[39] Ensia,[40] Nature News,[41] BBC radio[42] and a host of student projects.[43]

Wright is a member of several editorial boards including GigaScience, Geography Compass, Journal of Coastal Conservation, The Anthropocene Review, Annals of the American Association of Geographers, International Journal of Geographical Information Science, Marine Geodesy, and Transactions in GIS.

In 2018, Wright appeared in the Tribeca Film Festival in the short film series "Let Science Speak."[44][45]

Awards and honors

Wright is an elected member of the National Academy of Sciences,[46] the National Academy of Engineering[47] and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences,[48] a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science[49][50] and of the Aldo Leopold Leadership Program.[51][52] Other honors include:

Selected publications

Scholia has a profile for Dawn J. Wright (Q23414717).

Wright has authored nearly 100 peer-reviewed journal articles and 12 books. A selection is listed here.

  • Earle, Sylvia; Wright, Dawn; Joye, Samantha; Laffoley, Dan; Baxter, John; Safina, Carl; Elkus, Patricia (2018). "Ocean deoxygenation: Time for action". Science. 359 (6383): 1475–1476. Bibcode:2018Sci...359.1475E. doi:10.1126/science.aat0167. PMID 29599234. S2CID 206666825.
  • Wright, Dawn (2017). "Swells, soundings, and sustainability, but... here be monsters". Oceanography. 30 (2): 90–103. doi:10.5670/oceanog.2017.207.
  • Wright, Dawn (2016). Ocean Solutions, Earth Solutions (2nd ed.). Redlands, CA: Esri Press. p. 500. ISBN 9781589484603. Retrieved 15 January 2017.
  • Wright, Dawn J.; et al. (1997). "Demystifying the persistent ambiguity of GIS as "tool" versus "science,"". Annals of the Association of American Geographers. 87 (2): 346–362. doi:10.1111/0004-5608.872057.
  • Wright, Dawn; et al. (1995). "Crustal fissuring and its relationship to magmatic and hydrothermal processes on the East Pacific Rise crest (9° 12' - 54'N)". Journal of Geophysical Research. 100 (B4): 6097–6210. Bibcode:1995JGR...100.6097W. doi:10.1029/94jb02876. S2CID 59400668.

Diversity and Inclusion

Wright is a member of the American Geophysical Union's Diversity and Inclusion Advisory Committee.[68] She is also a supporter and participant in the Black in Marine Science organization.[69]

See also

References

  1. ^ Wright, Dawn (2007). Arc Marine: GIS for a Blue Planet. ESRI. ISBN 978-1589480179.
  2. ^ Shields, Barbara. "Esri Appoints Dawn J. Wright as Chief Scientist". Esri News. Esri. Retrieved 21 March 2016.
  3. ^ Huber, Colin (16 November 2007). "Oregon Professor of the Year". OSU Spotlight. Oregon State University. Retrieved 21 March 2016.
  4. ^ Council for Advancement and Support of Education. "U.S. Professors of the Year". Professors of the Year National and State Winners. Council for Advancement and Support of Education. Archived from the original on 2022-05-16. Retrieved 21 March 2016.
  5. ^ NOAA Office of National Marine Sanctuaries, Maritime Heritage Program. "Deep Sea Dawn". Voyage to Discovery: Untold Stories of African-Americans and the Sea. NOAA. Archived from the original on 2016-03-16. Retrieved 21 March 2016.
  6. ^ Sherman, Lee (2007-07-23). "Great Blue Engine". Terra Magazine. Oregon State University News & Research Communications. Retrieved 21 March 2016.
  7. ^ EYOS Expeditions (13 July 2022). "Dawn Wright Successfully Dives Challenger Deep". EYOS Expeditions Blog. EYOS Expeditions. Retrieved 28 July 2022.
  8. ^ Deep Ocean Search (25 June 2022). "DOS provides another high-tech solution for ultra-deepwater operations". Deep Ocean Search News. Deep Ocean Search. Retrieved 28 July 2022.
  9. ^ Leachman, Shelly (Fall–Winter 2002). "The Weight of Water". UC Santa Barbara Magazine. Retrieved January 12, 2022.
  10. ^ Richardson, Julieanna. "Dawn Wright". The HistoryMakers: The Nation's Largest African American Video Oral History Collection. The HistoryMakers: ScienceMakers. Retrieved 21 March 2016.
  11. ^ Lederman, Leon (2001). Portraits of Great American Scientists (1st ed.). Amherst, NY: Prometheus Books. pp. 275–290. ISBN 978-1573929325.
  12. ^ Wright, Dawn Jeannine (1994). From pattern to process on the deep ocean floor: a geographic information system approach. OCLC 34451998. Retrieved 23 July 2021.
  13. ^ "Go with the Flow". alumni.ucsb.edu. Retrieved May 10, 2022.
  14. ^ "UC Santa Barbara Alumni". UC Santa Barbara Alumni. UC Santa Barbara. Retrieved 21 February 2024.
  15. ^ Norrington, Bill. "Dawn Wright Gives Science & Mathematics Commencement Speech". UCSB Geography News & Events. UCSB Department of Geography. Retrieved 21 March 2016.[permanent dead link‍]
  16. ^ Wright, Dawn; Bartlett, Darius (2000). Marine and Coastal Geographical Information Systems (1st ed.). London: Taylor & Francis. p. 320. ISBN 978-0-7484-0862-7. Retrieved 21 March 2016.
  17. ^ Geological Society of America. "2015 Bromery Award for Minorities". Geological Society of America Awards. Geological Society of America. Retrieved 21 March 2016.
  18. ^ Warf, Barney (2010). "Wright, Dawn (1961–)". Encyclopedia of Geography. Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE Publications, Inc. pp. 3137–3138. doi:10.4135/9781412939591.n1263. ISBN 9781412956970.
  19. ^ Hill, Richard (January 30, 2002). "Geo Watch the Undersea World of Dawn Wright". No. Wednesday Science Feature. Advance Publications. The Oregonian. Archived from the original on 2 January 2017. Retrieved 21 March 2016.
  20. ^ Wright, Dawn J. (1997). "Demystifying the persistent ambiguity of GIS as "tool" versus "science,"". Annals of the Association of American Geographers. 87 (2): 346–362. doi:10.1111/0004-5608.872057.
  21. ^ Warf, Barney (2010). "Wright, Dawn (1961–)". Encyclopedia of Geography. Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE Publications, Inc. pp. 3137–3138. doi:10.4135/9781412939591.n1263. ISBN 9781412956970.
  22. ^ Wright, Dawn. "Seagoing Expeditions". Vita of Dawn Wright. Oregon State University. Retrieved 21 March 2016.
  23. ^ Ocean Drilling Program. "Ocean Drilling Program Cruise Information". Ocean Drilling Program Legs 100-210. Ocean Drilling Program, Texas A&M University.
  24. ^ Ocean Drilling Program. "Ocean Drilling Program Cruise Information". Ocean Drilling Program Leg-Related Publications. Ocean Drilling Program, Texas A&M University. Retrieved 21 March 2016.
  25. ^ Staff (2009-06-11). "Wright Named to Ocean Studies Board". OSU News and Research Communications. Oregon State University. Archived from the original on 2016-08-06. Retrieved 21 March 2016.
  26. ^ National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. "NOAA Science Advisory Board Members". NOAA Science Advisory Board. NOAA. Archived from the original on 7 April 2016. Retrieved 21 March 2016.
  27. ^ Environmental Protection Agency. "EPA Science Advisory Board (SAB)". EPA Science Advisory Board (SAB). EPA. Retrieved 21 March 2016.
  28. ^ UCGIS Research Committee. "2010 UCGIS Research Award". UCGIS 2010 Summer Assembly. University Consortium for Geographic Information Science. Archived from the original on 15 April 2016. Retrieved 21 March 2016.
  29. ^ Smith, Deborah K. "Women Exploring the Oceans: Dawn Wright". Women Exploring the Oceans. Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. Archived from the original on 22 March 2016. Retrieved 21 March 2016.
  30. ^ Staff, The Oceanography Society (2005). "Dawn Wright". Oceanography. 18 (1): 240.
  31. ^ Resnick, Brian (2011-12-13). "A Conversation With Dawn Wright, Chief Scientist of the Environmental Systems Research Institute". 9 1/2 Questions. The Atlantic. Retrieved 21 March 2016.
  32. ^ New Hampshire Sea Grant (2013-09-26). "Dawn Wright". Marine Careers.Net. Sea Grant. Retrieved 21 March 2016.
  33. ^ NOAA Office of National Marine Sanctuaries, Maritime Heritage Program. "Deep Sea Dawn". Voyage to Discovery: Untold Stories of African-Americans and the Sea. NOAA. Archived from the original on 16 March 2016. Retrieved 21 March 2016.
  34. ^ Francisco, Edna (2005-04-29). "Diving Into the Deep". Science Careers. AAAS. Retrieved 21 March 2016.
  35. ^ Wang, Xioawei. "Ocean Sensing". Harvard Design: Wet Matter. Harvard University Graduate School of Design. Retrieved 21 March 2016.
  36. ^ Leatherman, Greg (2014). "Dawn Wright, Esri Chief Scientist". Environment, Coastal & Offshore (ECO) Magazine. July/August: 36–41. Retrieved 21 March 2016.
  37. ^ Richardson, Julieanna. "Dawn Wright". The HistoryMakers: The Nation's Largest African American Video Oral History Collection. The HistoryMakers: ScienceMakers. Retrieved 21 March 2016.
  38. ^ LetScienceSpeak.com. "Dawn Wright". Let Science Speak, Episode Six. Let Science Speak, Generous Films. Retrieved 2 January 2019.
  39. ^ Smith, Brooke. "Dawn Wright: on science communication, social media, and joining our board". COMPASSBlogs. COMPASS Science Communication, Inc. Archived from the original on 6 February 2015. Retrieved 21 March 2016.
  40. ^ Editorial Staff. "Dawn Wright, Chief Scientist, Esri". Ensia Online Magazine. University of Minnesota Institute on the Environment. Retrieved 21 March 2016.
  41. ^ Witze, Alexandra (2017-01-05). "3D ocean map tracks ecosystems in unprecedented detail". Nature. 541 (7635): 10–11. Bibcode:2017Natur.541...10W. doi:10.1038/541010a. PMID 28054619.
  42. ^ Mitchell, Gareth. "Humanitarian digital safety for refugees+Youthonomics+Ecological Marine Units". BBC Click. BBC World Service. Retrieved 15 January 2017.
  43. ^ Futch, Julie (2008-10-12). "Cultural Site: Dawn Wright". WS 320 Gender and Technology. Oregon State University. Retrieved 21 March 2016.
  44. ^ Generous Films. "Let Science Speak". Let Science Speak. Generous Films. Retrieved 23 September 2020.
  45. ^ Cision PR Newswire. "Let Science Speak Premieres On The Big Screen During The Tribeca TV® Festival". Cision PR Newswire News Releases (Press release). Cision Distribution. Retrieved 23 September 2020.
  46. ^ News from NAS. "National Academy of Sciences Elects New Members — Including a Record Number of Women — and International Members". NAS Online. NAS. Retrieved 8 May 2021.
  47. ^ National Academy of Engineering. "Members". NAE. Retrieved 4 June 2023.
  48. ^ American Academy of Arts & Sciences. "New Members Elected in 2021". American Academy of Arts & Sciences web. AAA&S. Retrieved 8 May 2021.
  49. ^ "Historic Fellows | American Association for the Advancement of Science". www.aaas.org. Retrieved 23 July 2021.
  50. ^ Stauth, David (2009-01-14). "OSU Researchers Named Fellow of AAAS". OSU News and Research Communications. Oregon State University. Archived from the original on 2016-08-07. Retrieved 4 June 2016.
  51. ^ Leopold Leadership Program. "Dawn Wright". Leopold Fellows Directory. Stanford University and Duke University. Retrieved 21 March 2016.
  52. ^ Stauth, David (2011-03-03). "Wright named Leopold Leadership Fellow". OSU News and Research Communications. Oregon State University. Archived from the original on 2016-08-06. Retrieved 21 March 2016.
  53. ^ "2024 Alumni Awards Recipients". UC Santa Barbara Alumni. Retrieved 2024-04-06.
  54. ^ "tos-fellows-meet | The Oceanography Society". tos.org. Archived from the original on 2021-06-15. Retrieved 2021-06-01.
  55. ^ "Recipients of the 2020-2021 TOS honors – Scientific Committee on Oceanic Research (SCOR)". scor-int.org. Retrieved 2021-06-01.
  56. ^ "Texas A&M Geosciences Announces 2019 Distinguished Achievement Awards". geonews.tamu.edu. Retrieved 2019-10-17.
  57. ^ Staff. "California Academy of Sciences welcomes new Fellows, bestows annual awards". California Academy of Sciences.
  58. ^ Staff. "Steinbach Visiting Scholar, MIT/WHOI Joint Program in Oceanography/Applied Ocean Science & Engineering". MIT-WHOI Joint Program. Archived from the original on 2018-08-11. Retrieved 2018-08-11.
  59. ^ Staff. "18th Annual Roger Revelle Commemorative Lecture". National Academy of Sciences.
  60. ^ Staff. "All Active and Current GSA Fellows". Geological Society of America.
  61. ^ Shields, Barbara (10 November 2015). "Geological Society of America Honors Esri Chief Scientist Dawn J. Wright, PhD". Esri News Releases. Esri. Retrieved 21 March 2016.
  62. ^ Geospatial Solutions Staff (16 December 2015). "Esri scientist Dawn Wright delivers honors lecture at AGU meeting". Geospatial Solutions. North Coast Media LLC. Retrieved 21 March 2016.
  63. ^ Shields, Barbara (11 April 2013). "Esri Chief Scientist Receives Distinguished Teaching Honors". Esri News Releases. Esri. Retrieved 21 March 2016.
  64. ^ Floyd, Mark. "OSU's Dawn Wright to receive national award". OSU News and Research Communications. Oregon State University. Archived from the original on 4 April 2016. Retrieved 21 March 2016.
  65. ^ Staff. "Milton Harris Award in Basic Research". OSU College of Science. Oregon State University College of Science. Retrieved 21 March 2016.
  66. ^ National Science Foundation. "Faculty Early Career Development Program (CAREER)". NSF CAREER and PECASE Information. National Science Foundation. Retrieved 31 May 2016.
  67. ^ National Science Foundation. "CAREER: Crustal Cracking along Multi-Segment Portions of the Juan de Fuca Ridge and its Relation to Ridge Segmentation". NSF Award Abstract Award Abstract #9521039. National Science Foundation. Retrieved 31 May 2016.
  68. ^ "Diversity and Inclusion Advisory Committee". www.agu.org. Retrieved 2019-10-17.
  69. ^ Black in Marine Science. "Profiles of Black Marine Scientists V-Z". Black in Marine Science. Retrieved 28 July 2022.