Graham Shimmield

Graham Shimmield graduated from the University of Durham in Geology in 1981, and received a Ph.D. in Marine Geochemistry from the University of Edinburgh in 1985. Currently, he holds the position of Executive Director and President of the Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences, since March 2008. Graham’s particular interest is in marine geochemistry, which includes the fundamental studies of geochemical processes operating in ancient oceans through identifying indicators of ocean and climate change (palaeoceanography), the biogeochemical cycling of modern oceans using naturally-occurring radioisotopes, and examining human impacts and contamination in coastal and deep seas. Since arriving in Maine, Graham is serving on the boards of the Maine Innovation Economy Advisory Board, Maine Space Grant and Maine Sea Grant, and advisory boards for Maine Maritime Academy and Mount Desert Island Biological Laboratory. Very recently (Feb 2013) he has been elected to the Board of Trustees for the Consortium for Ocean Leadership. In November 2011, Graham was named by MaineBiz as one of ten “Nexters” helping to shape the future of Maine’s economy.