Richard Turner

2025 Sigma Xi Fellow

For his sustained contributions to marine biology research and for his long-term service to the scientific community through leadership roles in the Florida Academy of Sciences and participation in Sigma Xi’s national governance.

Statement

“Election as a Fellow of Sigma Xi is significant to me because this society not only encourages and recognizes “zealous research” but also promotes honor, integrity, and ethics in science. My respect for these values in our profession has been cultivated largely because of the influence of publications and programs of Sigma Xi over the last half century of my membership.”

Biography

Richard Turner developed his bent toward marine biology as a child, growing up as a young naturalist along the marshes, seagrass meadows, and barrier islands of Great South Bay on Long Island, New York. During his years of undergraduate and graduate studies at University of Maine (B.A., 1969; M.S., 1971), he investigated the tidepools and dredged the depths of the Gulf of Maine. And he snorkeled the environs of Tampa Bay and other estuaries of the eastern Gulf of Mexico while pursuing his doctorate at University of South Florida (Ph.D., 1977). Since joining the faculty at Florida Institute of Technology in 1976 and during a postdoctoral/sabbatical year at Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institution (1982–1983), the Indian River Lagoon System on the east coast of Florida has been his “tidepool."

Richard’s areas of study have focused on echinoderms, a familiar phylum of seafloor animals that includes starfish, sea urchins, and their allies. He has also worked on crustaceans, mollusks, and vertebrates. His research has spanned subjects from genomics to biogeography, although morphology and systematics are his favorite topics. Of his 66 publications, 50 are in peer-reviewed journals; 1 is a book chapter; and three are editions of the textbook Introduction to Marine Biology by Karleskint, Turner, and Small. Richard taught upper-level marine biology and various courses on invertebrate biology during his 41 years at Florida Tech; other courses were on biology of seagrasses, marine mammals, evolution, and natural history of the Indian River Lagoon.

In addition to the usual service on campus committees and outreach to the local community, Richard’s professional service has primarily involved the Florida Academy of Sciences. He has sat on the Academy’s Council continuously since 1977. The Florida Endowment for the Sciences was established during his first presidency (1985–1986), and the first annual distribution of funds from the endowment were taken during his second presidency (2009–2011). He developed programs funded by the endowment for grants-in-aid of undergraduate research and for travel awards to faculty on sabbatical leave. Richard became business manager of the Academy’s peer-reviewed journal Florida Scientist in 1994 and led the journal through changes in printers and most recently through its conversion from a long history as a print journal (1937–2024) to online publication (2025+). As treasurer since 2020, he has worked with other officers in navigating the Academy through changes in membership management and business practices. Richard was recognized for his service to the Academy with his selection as its 2018 Medalist.

Richard was elected an associate member (1971) and member (1979) of Sigma Xi by the University of Maine Chapter. He chose to become a life member in 1986. During his doctoral studies at University of South Florida, he received a Sigma Xi Grant-in-Aid of Research (1974) and was honored with the USF Chapter’s Outstanding Graduate Student Research Award (1976). In the 1980s and 1990s, he served Sigma Xi in several capacities for the Florida Institute of Technology Club, for the Southeast Region, and at the national level. One of his graduate students received the first Sigma Xi Grant-in-Aid of Research on the Florida Tech campus.

In addition to the significant impact on his professional development as a scientist by mentors John H. Dearborn (University of Maine) and John M. Lawrence (USF), Richard’s career philosophy was greatly influenced by release of Sigma Xi’s “Honor in Science” (1984) by then Executive Director C. Ian Jackson. That document has been a guide for him for decades since then, with further affirmation about honor, integrity, and the nature of our profession by subsequent publications of Sigma Xi as well as articles in American Scientist. Richard believes that Sigma Xi has served him (and his students) more than he has served the society.

Since retiring in 2017, Richard’s professional activities have included attention to issues of honor and integrity in science and to changing paradigms in his field. Decades of work in any profession often lead to broader views later in a career. Of course, he has zealously continued to focus on the usual delightful minutiae of basic research. In his present season of research in “retirement”, he has enjoyed further collaborations with former undergraduate and graduate students. And Richard continues to serve in various capacities as an officer in the Florida Academy.