Dawn Wright
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 (aka Esri).[2][3] 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.[4][5] Wright was the first African-American female to dive to the ocean floor in the deep submersible ALVIN.[6][7]
Dawn Jeannine Wright | |
---|---|
Born | April 15, 1961 |
Nationality | American |
Alma mater | UCSB, Texas A&M University, Wheaton College (Illinois) |
Known for | Ocean GIS, data modeling |
Awards |
|
Scientific career | |
Fields | Geography, oceanography |
Institutions | Esri, Oregon State University |
Doctoral advisor | Raymond C. Smith |
Other academic advisors | Michael Frank Goodchild, Kenneth C. Macdonald, Rachel M. Haymon |
Education
Wright earned a Bachelor of Science cum laude in geology from Wheaton College in 1983, 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.[8][9][10] In 2007 she received a Distinguished Alumna Award from UCSB[11] and was also a UCSB College of Letters and Science commencement speaker.[12]
Career
Wright's research interests are mapping of seafloor spreading zones and coral reefs, spatial analysis and geographic information systems as applied to the marine environment. She co-edited one of the first books on marine GIS[13] and is widely known as one of the most influential researchers in this area.[14][15][16] Another influential work was a 1997 article[17] widely cited for its analysis of the perception of GIS among geographers in the early 1990s.[18][19]
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.[20][21][22] Her most prominent service has included the National Academy of Sciences Ocean Studies Board,[23] the Science Advisory Board of NOAA,[24] the Science Advisory Board of the EPA,[25] the National Council of the American Association of Geographers, and Research Chair and Board Member of the University Consortium for Geographic Information Science.[26] A strong advocate of STEM as well as science communication, she has been profiled by outlets such as Women Oceanographers.org,[27] The Oceanography Society,[28] The Atlantic,[29] NOAA's Sea Grant Program,[30] NOAA's National Marine Sanctuaries Program,[31] Science magazine,[32] Harvard Design magazine,[33] Environment, Coastal & Offshore (ECO) magazine,[34] The HistoryMakers,[35] Let Science Speak,[36] COMPASS Blogs,[37] Ensia,[38] Nature News,[39] BBC radio[40] and a host of student projects (e.g.,[41]).
Wright is member of a number of 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."[42][43]
Awards and honors
Wright is an elected fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science[44][45] and of the Aldo Leopold Leadership Program.[46][47] Other honors include:
- Geosciences Innovator Award, Texas A&M University College of Geosciences, 2019[48]
- Fellow of the California Academy of Sciences, 2018[49]
- Steinbach Visiting Scholar (At-Large), MIT/WHOI Joint Program in Oceanography/Applied Ocean Science & Engineering, 2018[50]
- 18th Roger Revelle Commemorative Lecturer, National Academy of Sciences Ocean Studies Board, 2017[51]
- Fellow of the Geological Society of America, 2016[52]
- Randolph W. “Bill” and Cecile T. Bromery Award for Minorities, Geological Society of America, 2015[53]
- Leptoukh Lecture Award, Earth and Space Science Informatics Focus Group, American Geophysical Union (AGU), 2015[54]
- Distinguished Teaching Honors, Association of American Geographers (now the American Association of Geographers), 2013[55]
- Presidential Achievement Award, Association of American Geographers (now the American Association of Geographers), 2012[56]
- Milton Harris Award for Excellence in Basic Research, OSU College of Science, 2005[57]
- NSF CAREER Award, 1995[58][59]
Selected publications
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.[60]
References
- Wright, Dawn (2007). Arc Marine: GIS for a Blue Planet. ISBN 978-1589480179.
- Shields, Barbara. "Esri Appoints Dawn J. Wright as Chief Scientist". Esri News. Esri. Retrieved 21 March 2016.
- Dolby, Lori. "Curriculum Vitae, Dawn Jeannine Wright". Women Oceanographers.org. Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. Archived from the original on 2 January 2017. Retrieved 21 March 2016.
- Huber, Colin. "Oregon Professor of the Year". OSU Spotlight. Oregon State University. Retrieved 21 March 2016.
- 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. Retrieved 21 March 2016.
- NOAA Office of National Marine Sanctuaries, Maritime Heritage Program. "Deep Sea Dawn". Voyage to Discovery: Untold Stories of African-Americans and the Sea. NOAA. Retrieved 21 March 2016.
- Sherman, Lee (2007-07-23). "Great Blue Engine". Terra Magazine. Oregon State University News & Research Communications. Retrieved 21 March 2016.
- Richardson, Julieanna. "Dawn Wright". The HistoryMakers: The Nation's Largest African American Video Oral History Collection. The HistoryMakers: ScienceMakers. Retrieved 21 March 2016.
- Lederman, Leon (2001). Portraits of Great American Scientists (1st ed.). Amherst, NY: Prometheus Books. pp. 275–290. ISBN 978-1573929325.
- Department of Geography, UCSB. "Graduate PhD Dissertations 1991-2000". UCSB Geography Graduates, Research. UCSB Department of Geography. Archived from the original on 13 March 2016. Retrieved 21 March 2016.
- Norrington, Bill. "Open House & Awards at 34º24'54.89"N 119º50'41.76"W". UCSB Geography News & Events. UCSB Department of Geography. Retrieved 21 March 2016.
- Norrington, Bill. "Dawn Wright Gives Science & Mathematics Commencement Speech". UCSB Geography News & Events. UCSB Department of Geography. Retrieved 21 March 2016.
- 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.
- Geological Society of America. "2015 Bromery Award for Minorities". Geological Society of America Awards. Geological Society of America. Retrieved 21 March 2016.
- 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.
- Hill, Richard (January 30, 2002). "Geo Watch the Undersea World of Dawn Wright" (Wednesday Science Feature). Advance Publications. The Oregonian. Retrieved 21 March 2016.
- 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.
- Scholar, Google. "Dawn J. Wright". Google Scholar Profile. Google Scholar. Retrieved 21 March 2016.
- 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.
- Wright, Dawn. "Seagoing Expeditions". Vita of Dawn Wright. Oregon State University. Retrieved 21 March 2016.
- Ocean Drilling Program. "Ocean Drilling Program Cruise Information". Ocean Drilling Program Legs 100-210. Ocean Drilling Program, Texas A&M University.
- 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.
- Staff (2009-06-11). "Wright Named to Ocean Studies Board". OSU News and Research Communications. Oregon State University. Retrieved 21 March 2016.
- National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. "NOAA Science Advisory Board Members". NOAA Science Advisory Board. NOAA. Retrieved 21 March 2016.
- Environmental Protection Agency. "EPA Science Advisory Board (SAB)". EPA Science Advisory Board (SAB). EPA. Retrieved 21 March 2016.
- 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.
- Smith, Deborah K. "Women Exploring the Oceans: Dawn Wright". Women Exploring the Oceans. Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. Retrieved 21 March 2016.
- Staff, The Oceanography Society (2005). "Dawn Wright". Oceanography. 18 (1): 240.
- 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.
- New Hampshire Sea Grant (2013-09-26). "Dawn Wright". Marine Careers.Net. Sea Grant. Retrieved 21 March 2016.
- NOAA Office of National Marine Sanctuaries, Maritime Heritage Program. "Deep Sea Dawn". Voyage to Discovery: Untold Stories of African-Americans and the Sea. NOAA. Retrieved 21 March 2016.
- Francisco, Edna (2005-04-29). "Diving Into the Deep". Science Careers. AAAS. Retrieved 21 March 2016.
- Wang, Xioawei. "Ocean Sensing". Harvard Design: Wet Matter. Harvard University Graduate School of Design. Retrieved 21 March 2016.
- Leatherman, Greg (2014). "Dawn Wright, Esri Chief Scientist". Environment, Coastal & Offshore (ECO) Magazine. July/August: 36–41. Retrieved 21 March 2016.
- Richardson, Julieanna. "Dawn Wright". The HistoryMakers: The Nation's Largest African American Video Oral History Collection. The HistoryMakers: ScienceMakers. Retrieved 21 March 2016.
- LetScienceSpeak.com. "Dawn Wright". Let Science Speak, Episode Six. Let Science Speak, Generous Films. Retrieved 2 January 2019.
- Smith, Brooke. "Dawn Wright: on science communication, social media, and joining our board". COMPASSBlogs. COMPASS Science Communication, Inc. Retrieved 21 March 2016.
- Editorial Staff. "Dawn Wright, Chief Scientist, Esri". Ensia Online Magazine. University of Minnesota Institute on the Environment. Retrieved 21 March 2016.
- 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.
- Mitchell, Gareth. "Humanitarian digital safety for refugees+Youthonomics+Ecological Marine Units". BBC Click. BBC World Service. Retrieved 15 January 2017.
- Futch, Julie (2008-10-12). "Cultural Site: Dawn Wright". WS 320 Gender and Technology. Oregon State University. Retrieved 21 March 2016.
- Generous Films. "Let Science Speak". Let Science Speak. Generous Films. Retrieved 23 September 2020.
- Cision PR Newswire. "Let Science Speak Premieres On The Big Screen During The Tribeca TV® Festival". Cision PR Newswire News Releases. Cision Distribution. Retrieved 23 September 2020.
- AAAS Member Central. "AAAS Fellows". American Association for the Advancement of Science. Retrieved 21 March 2016.
- Stauth, David (2009-01-14). "OSU Researchers Named Fellow of AAAS". OSU News and Research Communications. Oregon State University. Retrieved 4 June 2016.
- Leopold Leadership Program. "Dawn Wright". Leopold Fellows Directory. Stanford University and Duke University. Retrieved 21 March 2016.
- Stauth, David (2011-03-03). "Wright named Leopold Leadership Fellow". OSU News and Research Communications. Oregon State University. Retrieved 21 March 2016.
- "Texas A&M Geosciences Announces 2019 Distinguished Achievement Awards". geonews.tamu.edu. Retrieved 2019-10-17.
- Staff. "California Academy of Sciences welcomes new Fellows, bestows annual awards". California Academy of Sciences.
- Staff. "Steinbach Visiting Scholar, MIT/WHOI Joint Program in Oceanography/Applied Ocean Science & Engineering". MIT-WHOI Joint Program.
- Staff. "18th Annual Roger Revelle Commemorative Lecture". National Academy of Sciences.
- Staff. "All Active and Current GSA Fellows". Geological Society of America.
- Shields, Barbara. "Geological Society of America Honors Esri Chief Scientist Dawn J. Wright, PhD". Esri News Releases. Esri. Retrieved 21 March 2016.
- Geospatial Solutions Staff. "Esri scientist Dawn Wright delivers honors lecture at AGU meeting". Geospatial Solutions. North Coast Media LLC. Retrieved 21 March 2016.
- Shields, Barbara. "Esri Chief Scientist Receives Distinguished Teaching Honors". Esri News Releases. Esri. Retrieved 21 March 2016.
- Floyd, Mark. "OSU's Dawn Wright to receive national award". OSU News and Research Communications. Oregon State University. Retrieved 21 March 2016.
- Staff. "Milton Harris Award in Basic Research". OSU College of Science. Oregon State University College of Science. Retrieved 21 March 2016.
- National Science Foundation. "Faculty Early Career Development Program (CAREER)". NSF CAREER and PECASE Information. National Science Foundation. Retrieved 31 May 2016.
- 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.
- "Diversity and Inclusion Advisory Committee". www.agu.org. Retrieved 2019-10-17.