Matthew Oliver has been named the Patricia and Charles Robertson Professor of Marine Science and Policy.

CEOE named professor

Oliver named Robertson Professor of Marine Science and Policy

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10:18 a.m., Sept. 24, 2015--Matthew Oliver, an associate professor in University of Delaware’s College of Earth, Ocean, and Environment, has been named the Patricia and Charles Robertson Professor of Marine Science and Policy.

The endowed chair, funded through a generous gift from UD alumna Patricia Robertson and her husband Charles, is meant to reward exceptional young faculty talent.

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“Today’s global environmental challenges require leaders who can link science and society, who can address the complex problems facing our nation and world. The distinguished gift from the Robertsons is a meaningful acknowledgment of the important roles that our faculty play, not only in leading the way toward sustainable solutions, but also in educating this University’s greatest asset — our students,” said Provost Domenico Grasso.

Oliver, who joined the UD faculty in 2008, is an expert in using underwater robots and satellites to examine how organisms use marine environments, and in studying the impact of climate change on ocean processes. In recent research, he used unmanned underwater vehicles to track the migration patterns of penguins, sharks and sturgeon, work that has implications on ecology and conservation. 

“We are very impressed with Matt’s work using a wide range of new technology to observe life in the oceans, discovering interesting and important interactions between ocean flora, fauna and the ocean environment. Matt also demonstrates an outstanding ability to engage and mentor students, collaborate with other scientists, and to share his excitement about science with non-scientists, from children to adults,” said Patricia Robertson.

Shortly after joining UD, Oliver pioneered the use of the Global Visualization Lab at the University’s Hugh R. Sharp Campus in Lewes. The Global Visualization Lab features tools to provide scientists with real-time data streams from satellites, autonomous underwater vehicles, floating buoys and more, on everything from ocean temperature and currents to the movement of ships. Since its inception, the lab has hosted more than 6,000 public visitors.  

He also is an inaugural member of the Robotic Discovery Laboratory, which opened in August 2014, and houses unmanned underwater and aerial vehicles (UUVs and UAVs) to carry out a broad range of research missions. 

Highly regarded for his research, Oliver received a Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE) from the White House Office of Science and Technology in 2010 and a NASA New Investigator Award in 2008.

He is a recipient of the Sloan Research Fellowship, and in 2013, he was named a National Academy of Sciences Kavli Fellow.

Oliver is a member of the American Geophysical Union and is the author of 43 journal papers. His research has been supported through funding from the National Science Foundation, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Delaware Sea Grant and the Lenfest Ocean Program, among others.

“I am honored to serve as the first Robertson Professor of Marine Science and Policy. My passion is to excite students and the public about the critical role the ocean plays in all of our lives, and to create new solutions to conserve the ocean for future generations,” said Oliver. “I also am indebted to my current and former graduate students Eric Geiger, Matthew Grossi, Megan Cimino, Danielle Haulsee, Matthew Breece and Alex Davies — I can’t imagine doing this without them.”

About the professor

Oliver joined UD as an associate professor in 2008. He earned his doctoral degree in oceanography from Rutgers University’s Institute of Marine and Coastal Sciences in 2006. He conducted post-doctoral research at Rutgers University funded through the NASA Research Opportunities in Space and Earth Sciences (ROSES) program. He completed a bachelor’s degree in ecology and systematic biology (summa cum laude) and master’s degree in biology (highest honors) at California Polytechnic State University in 1999 and 2001, respectively. Oliver previously earned an associate degree at Cerritos College.

About the donors

Patricia Robertson received her master’s degree in marine biology from UD in 1972. She and her husband, Charles, started NanoDrop Technologies Inc., a company that developed novel instruments that revolutionized spectrophotometric measurements of small-volume liquid samples. She was a managing partner with responsibility for finances and human resources until it was sold in 2007. 

The Robertsons have remained actively involved in CEOE and the University for many years. Patricia Robertson is a founding member of and serves on the CEOE Dean’s Advisory Council, and she was inducted into the University of Delaware Alumni Wall of Fame in 2011.

Article by Karen B. Roberts

Photo by Kathy F. Atkinson

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