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Andrew Dickson
Emeritus Professor at University of California, San Diego
Andrew Dickson is a distinguished marine chemist who recently became Professor Emeritus of Marine Chemistry at the University of California, San Diego (UCSD).14 His career at UCSD's Scripps Institution of Oceanography spanned four decades, from 1983 to October 2023.4
Research Focus
Dickson's research primarily centers on:
- Ocean acidification
- Quality control of oceanic carbon dioxide measurements
- Biogeochemistry of the upper ocean
- Marine inorganic chemistry
- Thermodynamics of electrolyte solutions at high temperatures and pressures
- Analytical chemistry of carbon dioxide in seawater2
He is particularly renowned for his work on improving our understanding of carbon dioxide chemistry in seawater, with a special emphasis on the effects of ocean acidification.1
Contributions to Marine Science
Dickson has made significant contributions to the field of marine chemistry:
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Reference Materials: He leads a program to prepare, certify, and distribute CO2 reference materials to marine scientists worldwide, playing a crucial role in developing quality control standards for oceanic carbon dioxide measurements.13
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CLIVAR Project: His laboratory participates in hydrographic cruises sponsored by the Climate Variability and Predictability (CLIVAR) project of the World Climate Research Programme.1
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Ocean Acidification Research: Dickson is part of a multi-institutional collaboration studying the implications of ocean acidification on organisms important to US West Coast fisheries.1
Education and Career
Born in Nairobi, Kenya, Dickson received both his B.Sc. and Ph.D. from the University of Liverpool.12 Before joining Scripps, he held postdoctoral positions at the Marine Biological Association Laboratory in Plymouth, England, and the University of Florida's Department of Chemistry.1
At Scripps, Dickson progressed through various roles, including assistant research chemist, associate research chemist, professor-in-residence of marine chemistry, and finally, professor.1
Professional Affiliations
Dickson is actively involved in several professional organizations:
- Member of the OceanSITES Data Management Team
- Member of the PICES Section on Carbon and Climate
- Chairman of the steering committee for the California Current Acidification Network1
He has also served as an editor or editorial board member for several journals, including the Journal of Geophysical Research, Oceans.1
