Oral history interview with William Ryan, 1997.

Biographical Note

Oceanographer.

Scope and Contents

Childhood: born Troy, New York, son of textile worker; Williams College: B.S., physics, 1957-1961; Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute: development of instrumentation, summer voyages at sea; Columbia University [CU]: Ph.D., oceanography, 1962-1971; Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory [LDEO]: development of continental drift, sea-floor spreading theories, magnetic research in Mediterranean Sea, Morocco, Cambodia; controversy over presentation of scientific material: LDEO and Russian scientist conferences, CU administration; creation of ocean floor map; environmental issues at LDEO: involvement with Nixon administration, conflicts with Greenpeace; restructuring of LDEO administration; changes in LDEO policies: training of graduate students, shift in responsibility for data collection, use of instrumentation; production of oceanography documentary films; reminiscences of colleagues.

Subjects

• Columbia University.
• Doel, Ronald, interviewer.--http://id.loc.gov/vocabulary/relators/ivr
• Interviews.
• Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory.
• Oral histories (literary works)
• Ryan, William B. F.--Interviews.
• Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution.