Margaret Boettcher

2005 Recipient
Geology & Geophysics
Thesis Title:  Slip on Ridge Transform Faults: Insights from Earthquakes and Laboratory Experiments
Advisor: Dr. J. Gregory Hirth, WHOI; Dr. Jeffrey McGuire, WHOI; Prof. Thomas Jordan, University of Southern California

Some excerpts from nominations:

•  "Margaret has made WHOI a much friendlier and social place and the efforts she made three years ago are still improving student life today."
• "She has been a student rep and a TA (twice!) during her time at WHOI and also participated in educational events in the larger Falmouth community.  She has always been helpful to other students, taking the time to explain whatever questions came her way about research, problem sets and the finer points of doing a cartwheel."
• "Margaret is one of the friendliest JP students I know, always inviting newcomers to dinner parties and encouraging just about everyone she knows to do handstands and cartwheels.  ...Margaret's enthusiasm for helping others - be it as a student rep or as a gymnastics coach - is outstanding, and I think she would be a deserving recipient of the Panteleyev Award."
• "I remember first meeting (Margaret) at my open house 4 years ago.  She was approachable and friendly then as she has been ever since.  She has been present and engaging at many recruiting events and open houses since then."
• "Margaret wasn't always the most visible or audible member of the Woods Hole student community, but she always seemed to be the one to get things done.  She served as a student representative for the G&G department, took charge of the effort to obtain recognition and funding for JP students from MIT, and always seemed to have an insightful comment or idea related to JP workings.  She helped organize and host several dinners for JP students in our class.  These not only helped us keep in touch with one another, but provided a great source of support during our last few years. ...Most importantly, the people make the program, and I think that Margaret's good humor, bright smile, and willingness to give her time and efforts for the good of the broader student community were a great credit to the program."