Keynote Speakers
2012: Dr. Jacqueline Dixon
Dean, University of South Florida, College of Marine Science
Dean Dixon is an internationally recognized Geochemist and experienced Professor. Her research specialties are mantle geochemistry and submarine volcanism. She has 34 published articles in top-ranked journals, including Nature. Dean Dixon brings to CMS a passion for research, graduate education and scientific advancement. Furthermore she strongly supports education and outreach endeavors to share the critical role marine science plays in current world issues.
2011: Dr. Al Hine
Associate Dean and Professor, University of South Florida, College of Marine Science
Dr. Hine is a long time Professor of Geological Oceanography at USF CMS. He has broad research interests which include studying how sedimetation in estuaries is influenced by climate change, sea-level change and current patterns. His team uses research tools such as high-resolution seimic reflection profilers, side-scan sonars, and ROV's. Additionally, they have used a variety of submergibles including the Alvin.
Al has also been heavily involved in scientific ocean drilling and have sailed on the JOIDES Resolution (Co-chief scientist-Leg 182, and sedimentologist-Leg 194).
2009: Dr. Abby Sallenger
USGS Center for Coastal Watershed Studies
Dr. Sallenger is the former Chief Scientist of the U.S. Geological Survey's Center for Coastal Geology in St. Petersburg, FL. He's presently a research oceanographer at the Center, leading the USGS National Coastal-Change Hazards Assessment that investigates coastal-erosion hazards throughout the U.S. His research group has studied the impacts of El Nino storms on the U.S. west coast and hurricanes on the Atlantic and Gulf coasts, including Isabel, Ivan, Katrina and Ike. His recent research papers have focused on understanding the vulnerability of coasts to the impacts of severe storms. He received both his B.A. in Geology and Ph.D. in Marine Science at the University of Virginia.
In 2007, Abby Sallenger was the recipient of the USGS Shoemaker Award for Lifetime Achievement in Communications, which "honors a USGS scientist who demonstrates great skill in presenting complex concepts to nontechnical audiences." He has recently given keynote addresses at international science conferences in Barcelona, Spain and IJmuiden, Netherlands, and was invited to speak before 1,200 emergency managers at the 2005 National Hurricane Conference in New Orleans. During 2009, he will present the annual Bradley Lecture of the Geological Society of Washington (DC).
On June 1, 2009, Abby's book for nontechnical readers will be released by Public Affairs, a member of Perseus Book Group of New York City -- Island in a Storm: a Rising Sea, a Vanishing Coast, and a Nineteenth Century Disaster that Warns of a Warmer World.
2008: Walt Jaap
Lithophyte Research, University of South Florida, College of Marine Science
Walt worked for 35 years in coral reef research projects with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Research Institute, formerly the Florida Marine Research Institute, formerly the DEP Bureau of Marine Research, formerly the DNR Marine Lab. Walt was also the Diving Safety Officer there for 30 years.
Walt Jaap is still an active marine biologist and was appointed an emeritus Professor by the College of Marine Science, University of South Florida. Research interests include coral reef monitoring, and community dynamics of Scleractinia corals.; He is a technical expert in coral reef restoration and evaluating restoration efforts at various sites in the Caribbean and Florida. The monitoring work has pioneered the use of underwater video transects and video image analysis.
2007: Dr. Ellen Prager
Earth2Ocean, Inc
www.earth2ocean.net, pragere@earthlink.net
Dr. Prager is a well-respected scientist, author and is well known for her ability to bring science to the layman. She has built a national reputation as a spokesperson on earth and ocean science issues and is a sought after speaker for public-oriented events and as an expert by the media. She has appeared on The Today Show, Good Morning America, Fox News, CBS Early Show and News, CNN American Morning, Larry King, and Lou Dobbs. Dr. Prager was also featured in the ABC News Special Planet Earth 2000, Miami’s NBC EcoWatch Coral Crisis, and has been in shows for the Discovery Channel.
Dr. Prager focuses much of her time now on bringing earth and ocean science to the public through writing, working with the media, creating innovative partnerships, and special events. She has written articles for scientific journals, public-oriented magazines, and several books including Furious Earth: The Science and Nature of Earthquakes, Volcanoes, and Tsunamis and The Oceans both published by McGraw-Hill. Comments on The Oceans have been superb – Jean-Michel Cousteau describes it as a “must have” for all those interested in the oceans.
As President of Earth2Ocean, Inc., she works as a consultant and freelance writer, with clients such as the world-renowned Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science at the University of Miami, the President’s U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy, Celebrity Cruise Lines, and StormCenter Communications, Inc. She has participated in research expeditions to places such as the Galapagos Islands, Papua New Guinea, Caribbean, Bahamas, and the deep waters of the Florida Reef tract. She continues to focus her efforts on developing innovative ways to share her passion for the oceans and the environment with others.
2006: Dr. Joseph J. Torres
Professor of Biological Oceanography, University of South Florida, College of Marine Science
Dr. Torres, a very popular professor at the College of Marine Science, University of South Florida, studies the physiology and ecology of pelagic species. The graduate students love the courses he teaches in comparative animal physiology, biology of the micronekton and gelatinous zooplankton.
Dr. Torres' interests include a wide variety of taxa from the crustaceans, gelatinous organisms, and fishes to the Antarctic pack ice seals. His research focuses on sizes from the micro taxa of 2 mm up to large marine mammals. His lab's main concerns lie in how open-ocean species acquire and use energy and how they have adapted to the temperatures and oxygen levels that typify their habitat. Fieldwork takes place aboard research vessels and sampling includes multiple opening and closing nets and blue water SCUBA diving. Many of the physiological measurements are done on board ship; shipboard measurements are complemented by a suite of biochemical analyses that are done in his home lab. Most recently, he acted as chief scientist for the Southern Ocean Global Ocean Ecosystems Dynamics program (SO-GLOBEC) examining the overwintering strategies of the Antarctic krill, Euphausia superba, on the western Antarctic Peninsula continental shelf.
Not only an adept SCUBA diver in both warm and cold waters, Dr. Torres is an accomplished paratrooper and a black belt in Shotokan Karate.
2005: Dr. Edith Widder
Dr. Widder is a senior scientist at Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institution. She is also an adjunct research preofessor in the Earth and Planetary Sciences Department of John Hopkins University, a Distinuished scientist adjunct at the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute and an adjunct professor of biological science at Florida Institute of Technology and at the Florida Atlantic University. She has participated in over 50 reserch expeditions, 30 as chief scientist and has made over 300 dives in the Johnson Sea-Link submersibles.
Dr. Widder has been a pioneer in the field of marine bioluminescence. In 1985, working in Deep Rover, she was the first person to make video recordings of bioluminescence in the ocean. Her research on the subject has been featured in numerous nature programs that have aired on BBC, PBS, Discovery Channel, and National Geographic. Besides being an author of over 60 peer-reviewed scientific publications, Dr. Widder has recently produced two children’s books on bioluminescence, and an award winning educational video, “Secret Lights in the Sea”. She is also widely recognized as a gifted speaker, who both educates and entertains her audience.
