Franklin Carrasco was born in Purén, southern Chile on 28 August 1944. He studied at Concepcion and Enrique Molina Garmendia High Schools respectively. In 1965, he started his studies for a Bachelor of Biology degree at the Universidad de Concepcion, graduating in 1968. He followed this by obtaining a Biology degree in 1974 with a thesis on ‘Polychaete larvae (Annelida) in the plankton of the Concepcion Bay, Chile with focus on the family Spionidae’. In 1986, Franklin was awarded a Master of Science degree (mention in Zoology), with a thesis on ‘Annelid faunistic groupings and their temporal variations in the macrobenthos from Concepcion Bay, Chile’. Later, in 1996, he received his Doctorate degree in Zoology with his thesis on ‘Dynamics and monitoring of the sublittoral marine macrobenthos affected by pollution: a study case for Concepcion Bay, Chile’. All his degrees were obtained at Universidad de Concepcion, Chile.
Between 1973 and 1975 Franklin was an Associate Lecturer in the Biology and Marine Technology Department at Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile, Talcahuano. In 1975, he joined the Marine Biology and Oceanography Department of the Universidad de Concepcion as a lecturer. During his early academic career, he participated in several oceanographic expeditions such as the XXVII Chilean Antarctic Expedition of 1973. In 1980, he worked at the Marine Benthic Ecology Laboratory of the State University of New York, Stony Brook, USA.
Since his first academic years Franklin had been involved in important and valuable work concerning university business and administration, mainly at Universidad de Concepcion. He was Demonstrator, Study Secretary, Universidad de Concepcion Delegate for the Fisheries Sectorial Committee of the VIII region (~36–39°S), Study Delegate and Study Coordinator. In addition, he was an active participant at the Biology Society of Concepcion and Chilean Society of Marine Sciences. Between 1987 and 1988 he was Director of the Oceanology Department. Subsequently, from 1993 to 1998 he was Vice-Dean of Faculty, and then served as Dean of the Oceanographic and Natural Sciences Faculty during five periods, from 1999 until 2013.
Dr Franklin Carrasco was a well-recognized benthic ecologist in Chile and overseas. He helped train many marine biologists in Chile. He also helped develop important academic and research work through lecturers, workshops, projects, editorial committees, expeditions and publications. He was a regular participant at the triennial International Polychaete Conferences, and represented Chile on the committee of the International Polychaetology Association.
Fig. 1. Franklin D. Carrasco.
He was a very friendly and affable man, always available to collaborate in initiatives related to the development of marine sciences in Chile. Franklin was married to Sandra Cisternas Jara and father of three children – Ximena, Hernán and Simón. He died on 29 December 2015 in Concepcion, Chile, following a long illness.
