October 17-20, 2010 St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador Canada

Keynote

Newfoundland Time 10:01 AM

Dr. Albert Bradley

Al Bradley is surrounded by models of oceanographic instruments and vehicles that he invented. Photo by Dave Gray, WHOI. Al Bradley is surrounded by models of oceanographic instruments and vehicles that he invented. Photo by Dave Gray, WHOI.

Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
Principal Engineer

We are very proud and excited to have Dr. Albert Bradley of Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute (WHOI) as this year's conference keynote. Dr. Bradley was educated by his parents and a long series of exasperated teachers including those at Cornell (where he received a BS and MS in Engineering Physics in '66 & '67) then at MIT where he received a PhD in Ocean Engineering in '73. A brief post doc position at MIT failed to prepare him to face the real world so he took refuge at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution where they remain steadfast in their refusal to change his title from principle engineer to toymaker. He therefore retired in 2006 but refuses to leave the lab and keeps working on whatever is interesting for the free heat. His research interests include acoustic systems, ocean sensor systems and platforms, control systems and autonomous research vehicles. He distrusts any computer that has more than 64 Kbytes of memory.

Keynote Snippets:

Why did you decide to become a scientist/engineer/etc.?
a) I am genetically compelled to build things (an engineer)
b) I saw Cousteau's 1st movie, Silent World, and Disney's version of Verne's 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea at age 11. I spent the rest of my youth trying to build submarines.

How did you become one?
Starting with Tinkertoys, Erector sets, electronics kits, I just kept making things. Now, here I am.

Get to know more about the fun side of Dr. Bradley.

All information are copyright Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute & Dr. Albert Bradley