20 Facts About Susan Avery

Susan Avery was the ninth president and director and the first woman to hold the leadership role at WHOI.

Susan Avery specialized in how atmospheric waves propagate in the stratosphere, earning her doctorate in atmospheric science from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 1978.

Susan Avery secured her first faculty position in the University of Illinois' electrical-engineering department.

Susan Avery's research included studies of atmospheric circulation and precipitation, climate variability and water resources, and the development of new radar techniques and instruments for remote sensing.

The author or co-author of more than 90 peer-reviewed articles, Susan Avery helped form an integrated science and assessment program that examines the impacts of climate variability on water in the American West.

Susan Avery built collaborations at the National Center for Atmospheric Research and NOAA.

Susan Avery developed new radar technology that allowed the first measurements of wind in the upper atmosphere in remote equatorial regions, leading to years of collaborations in the tropics and polar regions.

Susan Avery attained the academic rank of professor of electrical and computer engineering in 1992.

Susan Avery helped form an integrated science and assessment program that examines the impacts of climate variability on water in the American West and established a K-12 outreach program and a Center for Science and Technology Policy Research - efforts to make CIRES research more applicable, understandable, and accessible to the public.

Susan Avery became the president and director of Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution on February 4,2008.

Susan Avery oversaw the completion of major technology projects, and she brought focus to increased work on the application of ocean science to societal issues.

Susan Avery encouraged development of new funding resources through a restructured fund-raising office, partnerships with other national and international academic and research organizations, and outreach through events that opened the doors of the institution to the local and regional community.

Dr Susan Avery has given scientific presentations to a wide variety of lay and professional audiences, including TEDx Boston.

Susan Avery has been active in Congressional outreach, including testimony and briefings; active in US and international consortia dedicated to ocean research, observing, and application; and worked with the Governor's committee to develop the Massachusetts Clean Energy and Climate Plan for 2020.

In 2013 Susan Avery was named to the United Nations' newly created scientific advisory board.

Susan Avery has participated in field expeditions in Greenland, Antarctica, and Australia, and she has an interest in scientific literacy and the role of science in public policy.

Susan Avery has been a vocal advocate for earth system research, especially the coupling between the atmosphere and the ocean.

Susan Avery has served on many national and international boards, committees, commissions, and program review committees, and is active in professional societies.

Susan Avery is a fellow of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, the American Association for the Advancement of Science, and the American Meteorological Society, for which she served as president.

Susan Avery is a member of the American Geophysical Union and the Marine Technology Society.