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Adaptation and the Importance of Local Culture: Creating a Research School at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography

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Abstract

In the 1930s and 1940s a researchschool developed among scientists at theScripps Institution of Oceanography in LaJolla, California. Although that was due inlarge part to Harald U. Sverdrup, a prominentNorwegian oceanographer who served as Scrippsdirector from 1936 to 1948, this paperemphasizes the adaptive, evolving character ofthat research school. Conditions at Scrippsprior to Sverdrup's arrival influenced hisefforts in successfully organizing a group ofscientists. Once at Scripps Sverdrup proved tobe an able leader, but he also had to adapt tothe local scientific culture. Trained in atradition that emphasized the study of physics,chemistry and meteorology, Sverdrup's emphasison dynamical oceanography had a powerful impacton his new colleagues. But in the process hisunderstanding of oceanography also evolved. Hebecame more fully aware of the importance ofbiological and geological investigations, andit was only through close interaction with andreliance on a diverse group of scientists thatthere emerged an ecological understanding ofthe oceans that became a hallmark of Scrippsoceanography. Emphasizing the importance ofadaptation and interaction, and the work ofother scientists in addition to a group leader,this paper offers new insights into theformation of research schools.

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    Ronald Rainger

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Rainger, R. Adaptation and the Importance of Local Culture: Creating a Research School at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography. Journal of the History of Biology 36, 461–500 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1023/B:HIST.0000004570.20057.93

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