Susanne Menden-Deuer

Currently, I am a professor of Oceanography at the University of Rhode Island, Graduate School of Oceanography. I was born in Germany when it was still divided in East and West. I completed a ‘Diploma’ (roughly a Master’s in Science) in Biology at the University of Bonn. Part of my studies were done at the Centre for Marine Science at the University of New South Wales in beautiful Sydney, Australia. Being able to focus on studies in marine science and the awe-inspiring Australian nature, above and below the water surface are treasured memories. The research project of my Diploma was done at the Alfred Wegener Institute in Bremerhaven, Germany where I studied feeding in dinoflagellates. There I learned to love plankton ecology and seagoing oceanography. I received M.Sc. and Ph.D. degrees in Oceanography at the School of Oceanography at the University of Washington where besides Oceanography, I also learned to love the mountains, hiking and wild and remote places. Just around graduation, I was hired as a lecturer at Western Washington University’s wonderful Shannon Point Marine Center in Anacortes Washington. My move to Rhode Island happened after a stint as a research fellow at Princeton University.

Through my work as a mentor, researcher and teacher, I hope to facilitate peoples’ appreciation of the immense importance ocean ecosystems have for humanities well-being and that scientific knowledge can help us overcome challenges. Some of my favorite aspects of being an oceanographer are that I get to study the mesmerizing beauty and intricacies of the natural world. I’ve had the great fortune to spend considerable time at sea, visit faraway places and interact with people from lots of different places and backgrounds. I am enthusiastic to be part of making oceanography more welcoming and inclusive. Interacting with and training the next generation of oceanographycionados, whether they be scientists, artists, engineers or ‘just’ curious is one of the best parts of my professional life.