Remembering Judy McDonald

By Anne Gore | September 24, 2021

A long time University of Alaska Fairbanks employee and contributor to marine science and education, Judy McDonald, has died. 

Judy McDonald with a king crab in the lab.
Judy McDonald Paul shows the egg clutch of a red king crab in the UAF Seward Marine Center wet lab. Scientists used the lab’s seawater system to study the reproductive biology of crabs to aid in fisheries management. Photo courtesy of A J Paul.

Judy worked at the UAF Seward Marine Center with her husband, Dr. A.J. Paul, a biological oceanographer. The couple collaborated on researching commercially important Alaskan fishes and invertebrates, and their work led to better understanding and management of Alaska’s marine resources.

Judy made many contributions as a scientist and community volunteer, and is perhaps best known for her role in helping create, organize and run Alaska’s National Ocean Sciences Bowl competition (NOSB). Started in 1998, NOSB is an annual academic competition that engages high school students in ocean science. Judy was instrumental in the success of the Alaska competition, developing many partnerships, including with Alaska Sea Grant.

According to close friend Ron Smith, Judy’s mentorship and her involvement in NOSB led kids from around Alaska to develop an enthusiasm for marine and other sciences.

Alaska Sea Grant offers our sincere condolences to her family and friends.

Read Judy’s obituary in the Seward Journal.

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