UCSB Alumnus Stephen A. Maskel Remembers Professor Adrian M. Wenner

March 5, 2024

"Tribute to Adrian Wenner" by Stephen A. Maskel '76 (M.A., L&S Biology) and CCS Parent of Gregory S. Maskel '00 (CCS Physics)

Stephen Maskel with his thesis completed under the guidance of Dr. Wenner along with a copy of Dr. Wenner's book, The Bee Language Controversy: An Experience in Science.

"Adrian Wenner was the consummate example of an ideal major advisor. In this respect, he should become a model for other professors who are willing to up their game. His most obvious trait was his investment in freely giving support to all of us preparing to complete our first research paper. In my case, he never failed to remain deeply curious about the cricket research that he suggested and I conducted on the Channel Islands and the mainland. He backed that curiosity with a willingness to be very available as I sought his advice regularly.

I found his interests to very broad and most especially in the general area of natural history such as honey bees, beech hoppers, and my little contribution with field crickets. I also admired his courage in defending his olefactory research on honey bees which famously conflicted with the proposed dance language hypothesis of Nobelist Carl Von Frisch. He continued to defend his work even after he met with considerable professional criticism.

I heard many positive reports from other graduate students about Dr. Wenner. Gaining courage from what I learned, I walked into his Marine Lab office in the Spring of 1975 to nervously ask if I could become his graduate student. He paused, leaned back in his chair, and said that he would consider it but that he would have get to know me better. He had a scheduled flight to Santa Cruz Island and asked if I could join him for a stay on the island. I was delighted to accept the offer.

During our time together on the island, I filled him in on my background and graduate status while he discussed his own ongoing research interests. I witnessed his deep curiosity and enthusiasm about numerous questions, especially on the trail. In particular, he mentioned the negative impact of the non-native honeybees on the native bee populations of the island. I understand that, with his direction, the honey bee population has been eliminated.

After returning to the mainland, he warmly accepted me as his newest student; seven months later my cricket thesis was accepted by my committee. To this day, I remain indebted to him for the many doors my graduate degree has opened to me over the last five decades and his suggestion to work on research that he suggested.

We became good friends and on any later visits to Santa Barbara they were not complete until I could see him again."

—Stephen A. Maskel '76 (M.A., L&S Biology) and CCS Parent of Gregory S. Maskel '00 (CCS Physics)

Refer to “In Memoriam: Professor Adrian M. Wenner, CCS Provost (1989-1993) is Remembered (1928-2023)” for further memories and testimonials of Professor Wenner’s dedication to students at CCS and UCSB as well as his research on bees.