Gene Shinn wins the William H. Twenhofel Medal

Congratulations to CMS Courtesy Professor, Gene Shinn, for winning the Twenhofel Medal awarded by the Society for Sedimentary Geology for excellence in overall sedimentary geology.

The William H. Twenhofel Medal is the highest award given by the Society for Sedimentary Geology (SEPM). It is awarded annually for "Outstanding Contributions to Sedimentary Geology." Gene started his profession in geology with Shell Oil co. and in 1974 began his 31 year career with the USGS, where he has conducted pioneering scientific research on carbonate sediments and coral-reef ecosystems. He will receive the award at the Society’s annual meeting in Denver, June, 2009.

Congratulations Gene!

International Whaling Commission Commends Dean Hogarth

As it completed its 60th annual meeting in Santiago, Chile last month, the International Whaling Commission (IWC) recognized Dean William T. Hogarth for his contributions to the commission as its current chair and for "his outstanding leadership and work on the discussion on the future of the IWC."

Visit USF News to read the full article.

CMS Alumnus - David Mearns (1986 Master's graduate) successfully locates the wrecks of HMAS Sydney and the German Raider Kormoran from WWII battle in November 1941

David Mearns, Director of Blue Water Recoveries, is one of the World's most experienced and successful deep-sea shipwreck hunters. Over his 19-year career he has led the research, discovery, and filming of nearly 50 shipwrecks. The SYDNEY tragedy precipitated Australia’s largest loss of life in a naval battle. The HSK Kormoran (KORMORAN), a disguised German raider, opened fire and a battle ensued from which neither ship survived. To view video and photos visit the Finding Sydney website.

May 9, 2008

Scientists in USF’s College of Marine Science are featured in the latest edition of the USF Magazine, in the article titled "Oceans of Evidence".

The article discusses USF's research contributions to the growing body of knowledge on the hotly debated topic of global warming.

View article
Visit the USF Magazine website.

April 8, 2008

CMS Faculty member,Dr. David Mann, and CMS doctoral student , James Locasio, featured in The New York Times - Science news article for research involving black drum mating calls

Locascio was also interviewed for the CBS evening news.

The article by Nonny De La Peña, titled "What’s Making That Awful Racket? Surprisingly, It May Be Fish" discusses how Locasico and Mann rescued Cape Coral, FL from financial folly by discovering the source of the eerie thumping noises reverberating through the water front homes.
View The New York Times article.
Watch the CBS evening news video "Fish Making A Symphony Under The Sea"

 

Photos: Dr. David Mann (left) and James Locascio (right)

March 21, 2008

Three CMS students recently awarded "Most Outstanding Posters" at the 2008 Ocean Sciences Meeting and two CMS students awarded with "Outstanding Student Presentations" at the Fall AGU meeting.

The CMS is proud to acknowledge (from left to right) Digna Rueda-Roa, Jen Flannery, Marianne Dietz, and Enrique Montes-Herrera for their recent achievements. From 117 student presentations in the section "Ocean Sciences", Digna Rueda-Roa and Enrique Montes-Herrera  won (along 6 other students) the "best student presentation" at the Fall AGU meeting for presentation of their research in the southern Caribbean (The Cariaco Time Series). More recently at the 2008 Ocean Sciences Meeting (held in Orlando, FL in early March) Digna Rueda-Roa , Jen Flannery, and Mariane Dietz received "Oustanding Student Poster Awards". Overall 21 out of 366 posters were selected.

Digna Rueda-Roa's poster titles: What Drives Unusual Upwelling Patterns in the Southeastern Caribbean Sea? Analysis of Local and Remote Sensing Data (OSM2008)
Characterication of a Secondary Upwelling in the Southeastern Caribbean (AGU Fall2008)

Enrique Montes-Herrera's poster title:Coupling of Sinking Biogenic Particulate Fluxes and Primary Production in the Euphotic Zone of the Cariaco Basin, Venezuela

Jen Flannery's poster title: A 1400 Year Multi-Proxy Record of Hydrologic Variability in the Gulf of Mexico : Exploring Ocean-Continent Linkages During the Late Holocene

Marianne Dietz' poster title:A Multiproxy Approach to Investigating Ecosystem Change in Response to the Development of Modern and Historic Low-Oxygen Conditions on the Louisiana Continental Shelf

March 21, 2008

Three CMS doctoral students recently awarded the "Distinguished Graduate Achievement Award"

The CMS is proud to acknowledge Jennifer Dupont,, "Terry" Fei Fan Ng, and Christine Cass for their accomplishments as USF gradaute students which resulted in being chosen for this award. The USF Graduate & Professional Student Council hosted an award ceremony on March 7th to honor the award recipients. Dr. Pamela Hallock-Mueller accepted the awards on our students' behalf, because they were attending the 2008 Ocean Sciences Meeting in Orlando, FL.

 

Photo: Left to right - Jen Dupont, "Terry" Fei Fan Ng, and Christine Cass proudly displaying their awards.

March 11, 2008

SCUBAnauts watch space shuttle Endeavour launch their banner into space

Jen Dupont and Julie Galkiewicz, USF CMS graduate students and science advisors to the group of teens who participate in the SCUBAnauts, veiwed the launch early Tuesday morning at Cape Canaveral, FL. Space is the final destination for the banner as part of "Operation Deep Climb".

 

Read the folowing articles for information about this milestone:
USF News article titled "SCUBAnauts Watch as Shuttle Carries Banner into Space"
St. Pete times article titled "Shuttle Endeavour begins milestone mission".

Photo courtesy of Lake Shore Camera Exchange

• March 5, 2008: Dr. Bob Weisburg, USF, and Cindy Heil, FWRI, featured in nature.com - news article about red tide prediction.

  The March 5th article titled "Oceanography: Red tide rising" by Mark Schrope discusses the goals of the Center for Prediction of Red Tides, a $1.25-million collaborative effort between USF and the Florida Wildlife Research Institute (FWRI). View nature.com article.
• February 26, 2008: USF College of Marine Science Faculty member - Dr. Luis Garcia-Rubio along with SRI -St.Petersburg Director, Larry Langebrake named within "10 faces" to watch in technology.

  The Feb 26, 2008 St. Petersburg Times article titled "Local tech scene given a fresh look" mentions the results of the florida.HIGH.TECH magazine feature "10 faces" to watch in technology. View St. Pete Times article.
• February 25, 2008: SRI-St.Petersburg in the News.

  The St. Petersburg Times article on Feb 25, 2008 titled " He connects SRI's many pieces" by Kris Hundley, discusses the challenges ahead for Larry Langebrake, as director of recently formed SRI-St. Petersburg. The article gives mention to the USF College of Marine Science and the Center for Ocean Technology. View St. Pete Times article.
• February 19, 2008: Two USF College of Marine Science students, Enrique Montes-Herrera and Digna Rueda-Roa, were awarded "Outstanding Student Presentations" at the Fall AGU meeting.

  There were 117 presentations at the 2007 Fall Meeting, and AGU made a total of eight awards. The awards will be publicized in an upcoming issue of EOS. We extend a hearty congratulations to these students for a fine acheivement!
• January 18, 2008: USF, Mote create marine research partnership.
  
  

  The University of South Florida and the Mote Marine Laboratory in Sarasota have worked together on Red Tide and other research projects over the years, but now the two want to formalize the relationship by forming a multimillion-dollar partnership. USF provost Ralph Wilcox said the collaboration will make the most of resources and brainpower."USF is just thrilled and elated at being aligned with such a world-class brand," Wilcox said Thursday.

  The timing of the venture, however, is less than ideal. Mote Marine has pledged $4.5-million of its roughly $11-million research endowment to the project, but USF and Mote will ask the Legislature in coming weeks to budget another $6-million a year for it. They also are seeking $10-million in one-time money in the 2008-09 budget.

  But legislators are bracing for painful cuts across the board, thanks to a tanking economy and resulting state revenue shortfalls

  "Like anyone else, we'll have to make a compelling case as to the benefits of this for the whole state," Wilcox said.

  Under the proposal, USF and Mote will form a direct support organization that pairs Mote researchers with USF's marine science college, as well as its colleges of arts and sciences, engineering and public health.

  As one entity, USF and Mote also can raise money and lobby for their research interests in Tallahassee.

  -Report courtesy of the St. Petersburg Times
• January 9, 2008: Former Dean to Head Downtown Group.

  Peter Betzer has been choosen as the new leader of the St. Petersburg Downtown Partnership. He takes over as president of the partnership, a group that advocates development on behalf of local businesses, on February 18.
  Click here to read theSt. Petersburg Times article.