Woods Hole – President Obama’s science advisor presented the commencement address at Saturday’s graduation ceremonies of the MIT/Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution joint program.
The ceremony was held at the WHOI Quissett Campus with 16 PhD’s and one master’s degree conferred.
Dr. John Holdren serves as the director of White House office of science and technology policy and co-chair’s the president’s council of advisors on science and technology.
“John Holdren is passionate about the role of science, technology, engineering and mathematics to our national well-being and in meeting the challenges our society will face in the future,” said Jim Yoder, WHOI Vice President for Academic Programs & Dean. “His support for science funding at the highest levels of government is crucial, and he serves as a role model for our graduates.”
Holdren and his wife have a home in Falmouth.
Before joining the Obama Administration, Holdren was Teresa and John Heinz Professor of Environmental Policy and Director of the Program on Science, Technology and Public Policy at Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government, as well as professor in Harvard’s Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences and Director of the Woods Hole Research Center.
The MIT/WHOI joint program was established in 1968 and 984 degrees have been granted.
