Bigelow Scientist Honored for Innovative Research

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Bigelow Scientist Honored for Innovative Research

MAINE, WEST BOOTHBAY HARBOR, Feb. 12 -/E-Wire/-- Dr. Joaquim I. Goes of Boothbay Harbor, Maine, a research scientist at Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences, was honored recently by Japan's Takeda Foundation. Dr. Goes was selected for the Takeda Techno-Entrepreneurship Award for his innovative and original research on the influence of solar ultraviolet radiation in marine ecosystems. Takeda Foundation awards honor and encourage contributions in science and technology worldwide that "enhance the value of human life and lead to an increase in the wealth, richness and happiness of life for humanity." They are awarded to individuals who have demonstrated outstanding achievements in creating and applying new intellect and knowledge that will have a substantial benefit for mankind in the future.

Dr. Goes is evaluating and predicting the effects of ozone depletion and its implications for human health and ecosystems. His goal is to develop methods that manage and minimize these risks. Dr. Goes has investigated the effects of UV radiation on marine phytoplankton, especially changes in the biochemical composition of cells exposed to this damaging radiation. He has shown that these biochemical changes could impact phytoplankton-consuming zooplankton through drastic changes in the quality of food and its nutritional value. The Takeda Award will allow Dr. Goes to expand his work to study how phytoplankton may develop strategies to combat damage from UV radiation. He also will study whether these UV-adapted species can dominate species that are vulnerable to the harmful radiation. The award is accompanied by a monetary prize of 21 million yen ($156,600 US) that will allow Dr. Goes to advance his research work over the next three years.

The Takeda Award selection process involved a 2-month on-line workshop during which participants presented their ideas and were allowed to critique and comment on the work of the others. A panel of experts mediated the on-line workshop and evaluated the research. Five finalists from an international group of 146 participants were finally chosen. The finalists were asked to make a formal presentation at the Takeda headquarters in Tokyo before an international selection committee. Unfortunately, Dr. Goes was on a Gulf of Maine research cruise during this time; this left him the sole option of making his presentation via satellite telephone and the Internet. "I had just recovered from a bout of sea-sickness in the rough seas and my laptop was flying all over the place. Giving the live presentation from about 7,000 miles away proved to be a challenge," said Goes. "In late November when I returned from the cruise, I learned that I had been selected a winner and would have to travel to Tokyo within 2 weeks to receive the award." Dr. Goes was unable to make the Tokyo trip; however, his wife Dr. Helga Gomes, who is also a researcher at Bigelow, attended the award ceremony at Tokyo's ANA Hotel. The ceremony included the diplomats from the embassies of the US, India, Finland and Germany, as well as other award winners, including Dr. Linus Thorvald, the creator of the Linux operating system, and Dr. J.Craig Venter, the leader of the Human Genome Project.

Dr. Goes joined Bigelow Laboratory in August 1999 as a Post Doctoral Fellow with Dr. Barney Balch, who invited him to join his team when they met at a workshop in Hawaii in January 1999. Dr. Goes has a Doctor of Science degree in Ocean Biogeochemistry from Nagoya University, Japan and a Master of Science degree in Marine Microbiology from Bombay University. Prior to joining Bigelow Laboratory he worked as a scientist at the National Institute of Oceanography at Goa, India. His current research at Bigelow is being funded by a grant to Dr. Balch from the Office of Naval Research. Dr. Goes also has recently received grants from NASA, NSF and the Maine Space Grant Consortium.

Bigelow Laboratory's principal concern is the biological productivity of the world's oceans, blending research and education to better understand marine ecosystems. A private non-profit research institution on the coast of Maine, Bigelow is supported by federal research grants and private funds. The Laboratory's current budget is $4.6 million, which accounts for over 70 grants, awards and contracts to its staff of internationally recognized scientists. Additionally, the Lab offers specialized courses in marine biology and has a research affiliation with the University of New England to provide them with technical expertise, teaching staff and internships. Bigelow also offers a week of hands-on research to Maine high school students each spring. For more information please visit the Lab's web site at www.bigelow.org.

Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences

http://www.bigelow.org

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