In 1975, Martin became director of the Moss Landing Marine
Laboratories. Previously the research center had switched
directors every four years. Martin held onto the position for
nearly 18 years. It was during his term as director that the lab
became a force to be reckoned with. Many attribute his success
as both a scientist and an administrator to his charisma and his
ability to think creatively. John had a knack for stumbling into
difficult problems and then coming up with simple solutions to
them. That is the mark of a great scientist, says Coale.
Martin's disabilities from polio didn't always allow him to sit
in a lab for hours on end and work out all the technical
details. His innovative ideas, his attention to his colleagues'
needs, and his good nature, however, attracted the interest of
scientists from all over the country. In the end, he always
managed to get the best from people who worked for him in the
lab. As director, Martin turned his attention to the issue of
phytoplankton's role in global clim