itn041027 (2)Bill Wise, MSRC Associate Director, was honored by Promote Long Island NY, Inc. last week when the organization presented him with the Long Island Education Award. The 11th annual Spirit of Long Island Awards breakfast was held on Thursday October 21, at the Marriott Hotel in Melville, NY. Five people were honored for their contributions to Long Island in the categories of education, environment, community identity, community service, and a lifetime achievement award. The goals of the organization are to promote awareness and appreciation of Long Island life, including its natural resources, recreational opportunities, economy and community.

Wise explained that he has always had an interest in nature and enjoys sharing his knowledge and experiences with others. “While the natural environment is physically beautiful,” he commented, “one’s sense of beauty increases when you understand how it functions. If you can convey how it works and not just how it looks, it leads to care and concern or the environment, which can inspire an ethic of conservation and preservation.” To underscore this idea, Wise recounted an experience drawn from his many years leading public tours of the West Meadow Creek salt marsh. At the end of one cruise, an elderly gentleman who had lived on the marsh for decades told Wise, “I thought I knew everything there was to know about this area, but you opened my eyes…” His new understanding of how the ecosystem functioned enabled him to look at the marsh from an entirely different perspective. Wise’s passion for education stems from such experiences with the public. “It’s the little things,” he said, “that tell you you’ve achieved some success.”

“I am extremely pleased that the talents and service of Bill Wise have been recognized by the Long Island community,” stated MSRC Dean and Director David Conover. “Bill has been the leader of MSRC’s outreach efforts for many years and his efforts admirably fulfill MSRC’s commitment to public service.” Wise completed an M.S. at MSRC in 1975 and he has served as MSRC’s Associate Director for the past 18 years. His is also the Director of the Center’s Living Marine Resources Institute. In addition to his work at MSRC, Wise chairs myriad committees that advise on regional marine resource management issues such as the New York State Marine Resources Advisory Council, the Surf Clam/Ocean Quahog Management Advisory Board, The Nature Conservancy’s Bluepoints Bottomlands Council, and the Peconic Bays Aquaculutre Advisory Committee.