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The Laboratory is honored to have its first Fulbright fellow, Abdullah Bamasoud, involved in physical oceanography research programs. Abdullah began graduate study in the fall of 2001 and is working with Senior Oceanographer Craig Lee in APL-UW's Ocean Physics Department. One of five Yemenis in the U.S. on Fulbright fellowships, he will receive two years of support for his studies. How he chose physical oceanography, the UW, his APL advisor, and how he got to Seattle in September 2001 tells the story of how serendipity and careful planning worked in concert for an entering graduate student. As an undergraduate, Abdullah pursued a degree in atmospheric sciences. He attended a lecture during his final year of studies given by an oceanographer who was originally trained as an atmospheric scientist. The transition between disciplines seemed a natural step, and because of his love of the sea, Abdullah decided to apply his knowledge of atmospheric processes to those of the ocean and to pursue graduate studies in physical oceanography. The Fulbright commission in Yemen presented Abdullah the choice among premiere graduate programs in physical oceanography, including the |
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University of Miami, University of Rhode Island, Oregon State University, and the University of Washington. The reputation of the UW School of Oceanography is known as far away as San'a, and Abdullah reports that his decision to come to the UW was an easy one. He told the School of Oceanography admissions committee that he wanted to study the sea of his homeland, the Arabian Sea. Craig Lee holds a joint appointment as Affiliate Assistant Professor in Oceanography and recently studied the Arabian Sea's response to atmospheric forcings throughout an entire monsoonal cycle. Because of this expertise in Abdullah's area of interest, a match between mentor and student was made. Abdullah's first visit to the States was his travel to Seattle in September 2001 for the start of classes. His flight from San'a to Europe was delayed because of the 9/11 attacks. Furthermore, he spent two days camping in the Frankfurt, Germany airport waiting for his connecting flight to be cleared. By coincidence Craig Lee was stranded at the same time in the Copenhagen airport. They were both able to make e-mail contact with the Ocean Physics Department at APL-UW and with each other so that all were assured they were safe. Despite the delays, Abdullah arrived in Seattle in plenty of time to get set for the first day of classes. The Fulbright Program, recognized as the U.S. government's flagship program in international educational exchange, was proposed to the U.S. Congress in 1945 by then freshman Senator J. William Fulbright of Arkansas. Senator Fulbright viewed the proposed program as a much-needed vehicle for promoting "mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the people of other countries of the world." Since the program's inception in 1946, more than 85,000 U.S. Fulbrighters have traveled abroad to lecture or conduct research. More than 144,000 foreign citizens have come the U.S. under Fulbright auspices. |
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