Willard Bascom

He authored several books which include the topics of waves, geology, archaeology, poetry, and oceanography.

[3] From 1973 to 1985, Bascom served as director of the Southern California Coastal Water Research Project, funded by various city and county sewage districts.

Bascom took the somewhat controversial view that human food waste in sewage could feed growing populations of fish.

“In Los Angeles, one-third of the sewage solid waste went through garbage disposals, food that we might have eaten,” he once said.

“But whether the food went through us or around us, it makes no difference to sea animals.” [2] In 1980, Bascom was awarded the Explorers Club Medal, their highest honor.