Professor H. William Detrich of the Department of Marine and Environmental Sciences has had an island named for him.

The island, three-quarters of a mile north of Palmer Station in Antarctica, is now known as Detrich Island. The island is on the Marr Ice Piedmont and seven miles north of the Bismark Strait.

The U.S. Board on Geographic Names approved the name in January 2016 and the entry has been added to the Geographic Names Information System.

As the GNIS site states, Dr. Detrich “has made numerous notable discoveries in Antarctic waters, especially in and around Anvers Island, regarding the actions of genes for various icefish, and has initiated studies regarding reactions of icefish to the possibility of warming sea water. He has also been heavily involved in student internships at Palmer Station and has provided guidance to Polar Programs at the National Science Foundation regarding ecology of polar regions.”

Professor William Detrich in Antarctica where he studies icefish.

Note: Although the photo at the top of the page is of Antarctica, it is not of Detrich Island.