At the OCEANS 2019 Marseille conference in France, the Marine Technology Society (MTS) and the Walter Munk Foundation for the Oceans announced their establishment of the Walter Munk Scholar Award.

The newly created award honors Walter Munk’s legacy of daring exploration and discovery through ocean science and technology research, as well as his dedication to ocean education and conservation.

Munk authored more than 200 scientific research papers from 1941. His seminal work in wave forecasting was instrumental in planning the Allied Forces invasion of Normandy (D-Day), which hastened the end of World War II.

The award will be presented annually to a scholar enrolled in an undergraduate, graduate or postdoctoral program in ocean science, technology, exploration or conservation, recognizing their outstanding achievements.

“MTS is honored to memorialize Walter’s legacy and help nurture the next generation of ocean leaders,” said Rick Spinrad, president of MTS.

The inaugural award was presented to Alfredo Giron at the OCEANS Conference in Marseille. Giron received his Ph.D. in March from the Scripps Institution of Oceanography. After receiving the award, Giron presented his commemorative lecture, “The Risk of Oversimplification in Fisheries Management.” This lecture was the first in what will become the annual Commemorative Walter Munk Scholar Lecture Series, presented by the award recipient at the annual conference.

Nominations for next year’s award will open next winter. Learn more about how to apply for the award here.