Chad Walter receives Monoculus Award, highest honor from the World Association of Copepodologists

The Department of Invertebrate Zoology (IZ) is proud to announce that museum specialist T. Chad Walter was recently presented the Monoculus Award by the World Association of Copepodologists (WAC), for his long-term dedication to copepodology. Chad’s many contributions to this field include maintaining the C. B. Wilson Copepod Library in IZ, developing and maintaining the online Smithsonian database “World of Copepods,” and his co-editorial role in maintaining the copepod section of the World Registry of Marine Species (WoRMS). Much of this work was performed as volunteer hours. Today, Chad continues to support copepodology by maintaining these websites, by recruiting new contributions to WoRMS, and by serving as treasurer. 

 

Plaque recognizing Chad’s Monoculus Award from the World Association of Copepodologists.

 

Recognition for thousands of hours of dedication to copepods

During the 11^th World Association of Copepodologists Conference in Seoul, South Korea, outgoing WAC President Rony Huys of the Department of Life Sciences at The Natural History Museum in London announced Chad as the triennial recipient of the Monoculus Award, recounting Chad’s extensive contributions to copepodology. Rony noted Chad’s dedication to the C. B. Wilson Library, beginning at a time when the library was maintained by a catalogue of 3x5 inch index cards.

In addition to maintaining the library by locating difficult-to-find publications, Chad helped migrate the library’s thousands of physical resources to electronic records. Today, Chad has ensured that the original index cards, which contain extensive and invaluable records, in some cases dating as far back as the 1800s, are publicly available in WoRMS, preserving an important section of historical records in copepodology. He also helps researchers from around the globe gain access to copepod publications that their home institutions do not have.

A (partial) example of a 3x4 inch index card set for Acartia from the original records in the C. B. Wilson Copepod Library. Digital forms of these index card sets are publicly available on the WoRMS database. In card 1 (upper left), the earliest recorded references date to the mid-1850s.

Grace Wyngaard from the Department of Biology at James Madison University, notes that the Monoculus Award is “the highest award one can receive from the society.” The Executive Committee nominated Chad for this award independently from several WAC members who also put his name forward, indicating how widespread the sentiment was for Chad to be honored. Although Chad was unable to attend the meeting in Seoul, Grace kindly brought back a wooden plaque detailing Chad’s contributions, a glass window hanging depicting drawings of body parts of Pseudodiaptomus, taken from Chad’s publications, a gift, and a gigantic card signed by WAC’s appreciative membership.

 

From two suitcases and six hundred dollars to a long-term career in IZ

Chad first arrived in IZ in July of 1982, after completing a four-year term in the Philippines as part of a Smithsonian-Peace Corps environmental research program. “I came to D.C. with two suit cases and six hundred dollars,” recalls Chad—who did not have a job offer when he moved here. He smiles as he adds, “and I never left.” When asked why he stayed, Chad states authoritatively, because “I knew I always wanted to work for the Smithsonian,” further noting that IZ contains “the biggest and best library in the world on copepods.”

While in the Philippines, Chad worked at the Marine Sciences Institute (MSI) of the University of the Philippines. Chad notes that even though his application to work for the Peace Corps in the Philippines seemed like a long shot, with his master’s in marine biology and a scuba diving certification, he exactly met the qualifications for the position.

During those four years, Chad helped develop the Institute’s research lab, designed research projects, conducted research, published papers, developed and taught a college-level marine biology course, and became fluent in Tagalog. Today, the MSI, a once-small program with a lofty vision, has grown into one of the tope marine science centers in southeast Asia, to which Chad helped lay the foundation in its early years.

Chad also put his scuba certification to good use, collecting thousands of copepods while working at the Institute. When Chad returned to the United States, he brought that collection with him to the Smithsonian, where it now resides. This collection formed the basis for Chad’s work on Pseudodiaptomus, on which he is the world authority.

 

Reflections of a long-time colleague and IZ volunteer

Chad is preceded in the Monoculus Award by long-time colleague Janet Reid, who volunteered side-by-side with Chad for 18 years in the C. B. Wilson Library. Janet identifies Chad as the impetus for constructing IZ’s online database of copepods, which formed the basis for the World of Copepods section of WoRMS. “Chad deserves about 90% of the credit for getting [the copepod references] computerized and online at the Smithsonian…It was a long haul,” says Janet, following up with, “this was really a prime contribution to the copepod community.”

For two decades, Janet and Chad poured countless hours of volunteer time into building up the library and digitizing its records. In reference to her colleague, Janet says, “he is one of the most straightforward people I’ve ever dealt with…I’ve always enjoyed working with him very much…He’s really one of the most dedicated people I know.”

 

It all comes down to passion

For all of his work with copepods, Chad still favors the calanoid genus Pseudodiaptomus. In many parts of the world, calanoids dominate the plankton, contribute majorly to nutrient cycling, and typically serve as the second most important food source for marine mammals, especially juveniles. Every body of water, Chad explains, “from high mountain lakes and streams to the deepest trench in the ocean” usually contains some form of copepod. In fact, copepods can even be found in the trapped water of bromeliads, high up in the canopies of trees.

Calanoida copepods from the Gulf of St. Lawrence – Chad’s favorite type of copepod. Chad approved the identification in this image submission as part of his co-editorial position for WoRMS. (Credit: Roberta Miller)

Gesturing to a tray of small, dehydrated starfish, Chad notes that while his “8 hours” a day are directed toward collection management, the tiny copepod will always be his big passion. “I just love copepods,” he states in a matter-of-fact tone, “and I like to provide information to people. It’s my way of contributing to copepodology.” And clearly, Chad’s colleagues in the World Association of Copepodologists appreciate just how extensive those contributions have been.

by Liz Boatman

Comments

[Manny Espinola]

To Ms Liz Borman,

Hi, my name is Manny Espinola, and I met Chad Walter when he was here in the Philippines in the late 1970s. He was working on copepods at the Marine Science dept of the University of the Philippines, where I was a freshman. I just want to say hello. Or just find out if he's even still alive. He was in his late 20s (early 30s?) when I met him (I was 18 -19). He's not on Facebook or Twitter. If he doesn't want to respond or reconnect with me whatsoever,it's ok. I just want to know if he's still on this earth, which he loved a lot and which rubbed off on me.

Thanks,
Manny Espinola