Professor of Oceanography at UCSD’s Scripps Institution of Oceanography (SIO), Integrative Oceanography Division. Prof Checkley’s research interests are long-term change in pelagic zooplankton and fish, including climate-biota interactions; role of zooplankton in the marine nitrogen cycle; effects of weather and air-sea interactions on plankton and fishes; ecology of marine zooplankton and fish; the biological pump, including the role of particles and plankton; ocean acidification; and instrument development. Dr Checkley invented CUFES (the Continuous, Underway Fish Egg Sampler – http://cufes.ucsd.edu/index.htm) and received awards and honors for his innovative technology solution. He was a POGO Visiting Professor at the National Marine Information and Research Centre in Namibia from January through June 2011.