Spencer, Derek W., 1934-

Derek Wardel Spencer was born on May 2, 1934. He received his B.S. in geology in 1954 and his Ph.D. in geochemistry in 1957 from Manchester University, England. Spencer joined Woods Hole Oceanographic Observatory in 1965 as associate scientist (1965-1971); he was senior scientist in the chemistry dept. (1971-1974); chairman of Dept. of Chemistry (1974-1978); assoc. dir. of research (1978-1987); and associate dir. of interdepartmental research (1987-1989). From 1974-1989, his work was primarily administrative and financial, dealing with the development of funding resources and overseeing interdeparmental grant proposals, as well as representing the institution at scientific conferences and in an advisory capacity in scientific and financial areas.