Dr. Susan Avery runs one of Falmouth's most renowned scientific establishments, the world-famous Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. The position of director and president of WHOI calls for a combination of scientific acumen and administrative knowhow not many possess.
“What you do is you learn a lot, with very little depth,” Avery says. “You synthesize a lot.”
In her early days as a scientist, that ability to bring a number of tools to bear on a problem was a natural part of Avery's approach. “Even my research tended to be more interdisciplinary,” she says. Studying atmospheric circulation as a young researcher, for example, Avery went out of her way to learn computer modeling and radar engineering, in order to more fully understand her field.
While the broad-based approach worked for her, Avery says there is also a place for specialization. “I think science can use the full spectrum of people. You can't underestimate the power of a new discovery that comes from a very focused approach.”
The facets of Avery's character that have allowed her to excel in both research and administration have been in place for some time, including an abiding dedication to science itself. “Let's face it, I was probably characterized as a nerd in high school, in college,” she says. “The ability to ask questions about your world was always something I was fascinated by.” At the same time, “I was probably not a complete introvert. I do like interacting with people. I do like some of the science that's more team oriented.”
Avery's attraction to atmospheric and ocean science, however, came later. She studied physics as an undergraduate and graduate student, not switching to atmospheric science until going for her PhD. For a time, she was on track to enter the esoteric world of theoretical physics. But she reconsidered.
“I was losing the connection to the real world,” she says. She hasn't regretted the choice since. Had she stuck with physics, she says, “I probably wouldn't have gotten as far as I did, or had as much fun.”
Part of that fun has been fostering a collaborative approach to the many and varied scientific studies going on at WHOI at any given time, encouraging scientists from different disciplines to shed light on one another's projects. “That's the joy of WHOI,” Avery says. “You have a comprehensive expertise here. The department walls are pretty porous here.”
The outer walls have become more porous under Avery's direction, as well, as WHOI has made a conscious effort to reach out to the community. “This is a great institution,” Avery says. “It has a great history. I want the community to feel that this is a place they're proud of.”
Avery has instituted a number of programs toward that end, including lectures and events designed to make science accessible to all. Avery says the events have succeeded in providing residents and visitors with a better understanding of the work being done at WHOI. “I think the feedback is in the tremendous number of people who come to these,” she says. “Every single one of these, I have just been amazed by the number of people who have come.”