Dr. Knudsen paints the intricate details on a mural display of ocean life, which was liiven to the pt. Defiance Zoo.
V igo r, Ded cat·o n, Ma-k a Distingu ished Career Of the many accomplishments which have characterized the development of PLU's Biology Department, perhaps the most consistent and noteworthy contributions have come from Dr. Jens Knudsen. Truly a biologist's biologist, he has a dis· tinguished record of research projects which have taken him in recent years to Costa Rica, Mexico, Alaska and the South Pacific, Since he came to PLU in 1957, his studies have added immeasurably to the strengthening and the stature of the Biology Department. One of his most significant ventures was a study of ocean life in South Pacific waters off Eniwetok Atoll. Sponsored by the Atomic Energy Commission and the National Science foun· dation, Dr. Knudsen and his colleagues discovered 35 new species of crabs. Work was begun on compiling a series of monographs to present the data in published form. This will be an eight-year task, for which Dr. Knudsen is serving as il lustrator and organizer, This year Dr. Knudsen published a valuable book, Biological Research Techniques, marketed by Harper and Row. The book explains various methods of collecting, preserving and illustrat ing plants and animals. More recently, Dr. Knudsen has been preparing a mural display of ocean life as a part of a natural history museum being built at the Point Defiance Zoo, This is only the first of several more such displays he will make, for, as a member of the Tacoma Zoological Society, Dr. Knudsen has taken an active interest in the initiation of a zoo-museum plan sponsored by the Society. This project, and the many others he has engaged in. typify the farsightedness and purposeful enthusiasm of Dr. Knudsen's work and teaching.
Special study in pla-;;Iics design enabled Dr. Knudsen 10 heiihten the realistiC effect of his displillr,i by use
of models.