Allan R. Robinson was Gordon McKay Professor of Geophysical Fluid Dynamics, Emeritus, at Harvard University. Recognized as a pioneer and leading expert in modern interdisciplinary ocean dynamics and ocean prediction, he contributed significantly to the techniques for the assimilation of multiscale data into ocean forecasting models and chaired the IOC–UNESCO COASTS program.
James J. McCarthy is Alexander Agassiz Professor of Biological Oceanography in the Museum of Comparative Zoology at Harvard University.