William Patrick

William Patrick has been a leader in wetland research for more than 50 years, producing seminal work on wetland soil processes. A professor at Louisiana State University since 1953, his research attempts to understand the chemical, physiochemical, and microbiological processes of natural wetland and rice soils. He has authored and co-authored more than 300 contributions on wetland biogeochemistry, many of which have been published in prominent scientific journals. He has been a delegate to national and international conferences on wetland soil biogeochemistry and has served as an advisor and consultant for government agencies and corporations responsible for managing wetlands.

Dr. Patrick established and directed for many years the Louisiana State University Wetland Biogeochemistry Institute, which focuses on environmental and regulatory research aspects of wetland soils and sediments. His major current research interests are the biogeochemistry of greenhouse gases in wetlands, both natural and agricultural, and the biogeochemistry of methylmercury in wetlands. He also is committed to linking his scientific work to environmental challenges. Much of his work has been directed at providing a scientific basis for making intelligent regulatory decisions and providing guidance to federal and state agencies. His research has had a significant impact on climate change policies and on the interpretation and application of Clean Water Act and Clean Air Act provisions. Dr. Patrick has played a crucial role in the development of wetland soil science, and his research has contributed greatly to understanding the value of wetlands.

— Glenn Guntenspergen, Society of Wetland Scientists, Duluth, Minnesota