Voices of Science

Sir Anthony Laughton (1927-), oceanographer, has made major contributions to the study, mapping and photography of seafloor features that have been important in the understanding of seafloor spreading and plate tectonics. During a career spent principally at the National Institute of Oceanography (later renamed the Institute of Oceanographic Sciences) he led cruises that used sonar to study seafloor fractures andchampioned British participation in a number of international projects. He served as Director of the Institute of Oceanographic Sciences from 1978 until formal retirement in 1988. In retirement he remains an active member of the oceanographic community.