MICHAEL FOLLOWS (2023)

The 2023 A.G. Huntsman Award is awarded to Dr. Michael Follows in recognition of his contributions to understanding controls on the structure and function of phytoplankton communities, as well as their connection to ocean carbon and nutrient cycles. Through the development of novel tools and approaches, Dr. Follows has linked ecological theory, computer simulations and ocean observations. 

With a background in physics and atmospheric sciences, Dr. Follows brings a unique perspective to the field of biological oceanography. Following his PhD work at the University of East Anglia, he worked at the Max-Planck Institute in Mainz, Germany before moving to the Department of Earth, Atmospheric and Planetary Sciences at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. From his initial position as a post-doctoral researcher, Dr. Follows eventually became a full Professor in the department and was recently appointed as the MIT Director of the MIT/Woods Hole Institute of Oceanography Joint Program. Across his career, Dr. Follows has mentored a large number of young scientists and led international programs leaving a lasting mark on the marine science.

View photographs of the ceremony

Dr. Michael Follows receives the Huntsman Medal from the Royal Society of Canada (Dr. Julia Wright) and His Honour The Honourable Arthur J. LeBlanc, ONS, KC