Jian Lin Named a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science

Jian Lin co-leading a deep-sea ocean research expedition in the Indian Ocean in 2007. (Science Party of R/V DayangYihao)

December 18, 2008

Jian Lin of the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) has been named a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). Election as a fellow is an honor bestowed upon AAAS members by their peers.

Lin, a marine geophysicist and senior scientist in the Department of Geology and Geophysics at WHOI, was elected as an AAAS Fellow for his outstanding contributions to seismology and marine tectonics.

“This recognition confirms the high esteem for Jian and his research among colleagues around the world,” said WHOI President and Director Susan Avery. “His tireless work, accomplishments, and leadership have not only advanced our knowledge of marine tectonics, but also the cause of global scientific collaboration for the benefit of all. He brings honor to our Institution.”

Lin has conducted pioneering research on earthquake interactions and global ocean ridge processes. He serves as chair of the InterRidge Science Program, which coordinates international cooperation in research and exploration of the deep-sea geology, biology, and hydrothermal venting of mid-ocean ridges. Lin is also a member of a U.S. national committee on tsunami warning and preparedness. Appointed by the National Research Council and the National Academy of Sciences, the committee conducts review of the U.S. tsunami warning and forecast system and overview of the nation’s tsunami preparedness.

Lin is among 486 members this year who have been awarded the distinction of AAAS Fellow to honor their scientifically or socially distinguished efforts to advance science or its applications. The new fellows will be presented with an official certificate and a gold and blue rosette pin on February 14 at the AAAS Fellows Forum during the 2009 AAAS Annual Meeting in Chicago.

“For all recognitions like election as an AAAS fellow, it is important to emphasize that our work is the result of collaborations with many talented students and with a large number of outstanding and dedicated scientists in the U.S. and throughout the world,” said Lin.

Lin earned a B.S. in geophysics from the University of Science and Technology of China in 1982, and a Ph.D. in geophysics from Brown University in 1988. He joined WHOI as a scientist in 1988 and has led U.S. and international expeditions to the Pacific, Atlantic, and Indian Oceans to investigate deep-sea volcanoes and hydrothermal vents, underwater faulting and earthquakes, and tsunamis.

“I deeply appreciate the stimulating intellectual environment and the freedom I have at WHOI to pursue multiple research interests, both on land and at sea,” Lin said.

AAAS is the world’s largest general scientific society and publisher of the journal, Science. Founded in 1848, AAAS includes 262 affiliated societies and academies of science, serving 10 million individuals. The non-profit AAAS is open to all and fulfills its mission to “advance science and serve society” through initiatives in science policy; international programs; science education; and more.

The Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution is a private, independent organization in Falmouth, Mass., dedicated to marine research, engineering, and higher education. Established in 1930 on a recommendation from the National Academy of Sciences, its primary mission is to understand the oceans and their interaction with the Earth as a whole, and to communicate a basic understanding of the oceans’ role in the changing global environment.