The R/V Alpha Helix Symbios Expedition: A Milestone in Coral Reef Research

In interviews, Symbios participants have unanimously suggested that the group dynamic of the scientific party was one of the most important reasons for the expedition's success. A team-based, interdisciplinary approach combined with frequent group discussions made for what seems to be the most effective and efficient scenario for ecological research.

The following list of Symbios participants includes short biographies and descriptions of each individual's role in the expedition. Titles reflect each person's role in the expedition. Photographs were taken during the Symbios Expedition of 1971. Please note that this list is a work in progress. If you are a Symbios participant and you have a question or comment, or would like to list your contact information, please contact us.

Biographies	Comments
Robert E. Johannes, PI and Chief Scientist Dr. Robert E. Johannes was a tropical marine ecologist who is perhaps best known for his innovative approach to marine conservation and resource management, which included incorporating the ecological knowledge of fisherman in small scale fishing communities. The findings from his research in Palau are described in his 1981 book Words of the Lagoon. He earned a Ph.D. in Marine Biology from the University of Hawaii in 1963. He went on to the Institute of Ecology at the University of Georgia as a post doc and stayed on for thirteen years as faculty. At the Institute of Ecology he worked with Gene Odum, a pioneer in the field of ecology, and also developed the idea for the Symbios Expedition, which took place in virtually the same location as the 1955 Odum and Odum study of reef metabolism.
Lawrence R. Pomeroy, Co-PI Dr. Larry R. Pomeroy is a professor emeritus at the Institute of Ecology at the University of Georgia. He earned a Ph.D. in Zoology from Rutgers University in 1951. Co-PI on the Symbios expedition, Dr. Pomeroy played a key role in planning for both research and logistical operations. More information here.	We went at it as a system, and of course the Odums did too, but we showed the necessity of really looking in many ways with many experts in a way that the Odums had not done. Bringing in all sorts of people to do all sorts of things, some of which worked and some of which didn’t. But giving us a much better system view of how it functions. - L. R. Pomeroy, Interview by C.F. D’Elia, July 22, 2004
William J. Wiebe, Professor and Scientist Dr. William J. Wiebe is a professor emeritus at the University of Georgia. He earned a Ph.D. from the University of Washington in 1965.	With one or two exceptions, people really were talking about what they were doing, all the time. It was a constant discussion of what was going on. If you had some results, what did it mean, at all levels. And everyone was interested in everyone else’s results. That’s always good, because you get different insight. In that sense it was a really nice expedition. - W. J. Wiebe, Interview with C.F. D'Elia, 2004
Robert A. Kinzie, III, Postdoc Dr. Robert A. Kinzie is a professor in the Department of Zoology at the University of Hawaii. He earned a Ph.D. in Biology from Yale University, New Haven in 1971. More information here.
James Alberts, Postdoc Information not available.
Christopher F. D'Elia, Graduate Student Dr. Christopher F. D'Elia is a professor of Environmental Science and Policy and Associate Vice Chancellor for Research and Graduate Studies at the University of South Florida St. Petersburg. He earned a Ph.D. in Zoology from the University of Georgia in 1974. More information here.	The Symbios Expedition had a sense of camaraderie that was truly extraordinary. - Christopher F. D'Elia, Interview with Lawrence R. Pomeroy, 2004 I’m wondering whether, in fact, just having the ability to collect massive amounts of information is the critical issue, or the fact that you have colleagues to bounce ideas off of is the critical issue. - Christopher F. D'Elia, Interview with William J Wiebe, 2004
William Sottile, Graduate Student, University of Georgia Dr. William Sottile is an adjunct professor at Michigan Technological University. He earned a Ph.D. from the University of Georgia in 1973. More information here.
Michael E.Q. Pilson, Professor and Scientist, University of Rhode Island Dr. Michael E.Q. Pilson is a professor emeritus of Oceanography at the University of Rhode Island. He earned a Ph.D. in Marine Biology from the University of California, San Diego in 1964. More information here.	It’s not enough to make one set of measurements- phosphate, nitrogen, ammonia, carbon- you really need to have a team to make all the measurements that you need to evaluate the biological activities of a system like that. And it paid off wonderfully. As a result of the Symbios expedition we know immensely more about the biological activities of a reef than we knew before. - Michael E. Q. Pilson, Interview with Christopher F. D'Elia, 2005
Nelson Marshall, Professor and Scientist, University of Rhode Island Information not available.
Susan B. Betzer, Graduate Student, University of Rhode Island Dr. Susan B. Betzer is a private practice physician in St. Petersburg, Florida. She earned a Ph.D. in Oceanography at the University of Rhode Island in 1972, and an M.D. from the University of Miami in 1978.	To me this expedition exemplifies what oceanography is all about, because it is a field that crosses disciplines. And people who are successful are people who work with others. You can’t do it all by yourself. - Susan B. Betzer, Interview with Christopher F. D'Elia, 2004 I think the good chemistry of the people working together is what made that so successful, and as I say, it exemplifies what good science should be. People really inspire each other, excite each other, you know, one idea plays off another, and pretty soon something new and very exciting has arisen. And I think that’s one of the very positive parts of it. - Susan B. Betzer, Interview with Christopher F. D'Elia, 2004
Gregory Telek, Graduate Student, University of Rhode Island Gregory Telek is deceased.
Philip Helfrich, Professor and Administrator, University of Hawai'i Philip Helfrich is emeritus director of the Hawai'i Institute of Marine Biology and the former director of the Enewetak Marine Biological Laboratory.	Another recollection was all the informal discussions between scientists once the day was done where they stimulated thought and drew off each other. The whole process of discussion and discovery was spread over a few days rather than a few years. So that to me was the greatest lesson learned from Symbios. The synergistic interactions of scientists in solving problems, and analyzing problems, and the results of their investigations. - Philip Helfrich, Interview with Christopher F. D'Elia, 2004
Stephen V. Smith, Postdoc, University of Hawai'i Dr. Stephen V. Smith is an investigator with CISESE and a professor emeritus at the Department of Oceanography at the University of Hawai'i. He earned a Ph.D. in Oceanography at the University of Hawai'i in 1970 More information here.	I think that now in many studies in coastal and deep water ecology that the team approach is used much more. But I think in part it’s used because of the recognized success of the approach at Symbios. - Stephen V. Smith, Interview with Christopher F. D'Elia, 2005
Judy L. Meyer, Graduate Student and Chef, University of Hawai'i Dr. Judy L. Meyer is a professor emeritus at the Institute of Ecology at the University of Georgia. She earned a Ph.D. from Cornell University in 1978.	Symbios gave me an entree to a group of scientists that have been a part of my career ever since. - Judy L. Meyer, Interview with Abbie R. Harris and Christopher F. D'Elia, 2006
James E. Maragos, Graduate Student, University of Hawai'i Dr. James E. Maragos is a Conservation Biology, Geography, and Ocean Policy faculty member at the University of Hawai'i, and serves as senior coral reef biologist for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's tropical Pacific region. He earned a Ph.D. in Oceanography from the University of Hawai'i in 1972. More information here.
Kenneth L. Webb, Professor and Scientist, Virginia Institute of Marine Science Dr. Kenneth L. Webb is an Emeritus Chancellor Professor of Marine Science at the Virginia Institute of Marine Science. He earned a Ph.D. from Ohio State University in 1959. More information here.	Symbios was a major experience. It was basically the first time I had participated in field work of that magnitude. It gave me a good understanding of how these programs operated, and what you want to do, and collaboration among scientists from different organizations. - Kenneth L. Webb, Interview with Christopher F. D'Elia, 2004
William D. DuPaul, Graduate Student, Virginia Institute of Marine Science Dr. William D. DuPaul is the coordinator for the Virginia Sea Grant Marine Advisory Program and a professor of Marine Science at the Virginia Institute of Marine Science. He earned Ph.D. from the College of William and Mary. More information here.
Ariel Roth, Professor, Loma Linda University Dr. Ariel A. Roth is a former director of the Geoscience Research Institute in Loma Linda, California. He earned a Ph.D. from the University of Michigan in 1955. More information here.
David Crabtree, Graduate Student, Loma Linda University Information not available.
James A. Marsh, Jr., Professor, University of Guam More information needed.	Working with other scientists in team mode was tremendously stimulating and energizing for me. The numerous daily impromptu discussions and the nightly discussions were continually helpful in asking new questions, in refining questions, in refining techniques, and in interpreting results. I would say that working with other scientists was really a key element for me. I don’t think I would have been nearly as productive otherwise. - James A. Marsh, Jr., Reflections on the Symbios Expedition, 2005
Robert I. Clutter, Research Scientist, South Pacific Islands Fisheries Development Commission Dr. Robert Clutter earned a Ph.D. in Oceanography from the University of California San Diego in 1963.
J. Morgan Wells, Research Scientist, Wrightsville Marine Bio-Medical Laboratory Dr. J. Morgan Wells is the former director of the NOAA Diving Program.
Lawrence R. McCloskey, Postdoc, Woods Hole Oceanographic Insitution Dr. Larry McCloskey is the Chair of the Department of Biology at La Sierra University. He earned a PhD. from Duke University in 1967. More information here.