Marine Sciences

Greenpeace Embarks On Oil Spill Expedition From St. Pete

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August 17, 2010

The study of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill continues with environmental organization Greenpeace embarking from St. Petersburg on a recent investigative expedition. Researchers, activists, marine biologists and environmentalists recently boarded the Arctic Sunrise for a three-month trip to study the impact on the Gulf Coast. Crew members will study sea life ranging from coral to plankton to understand the long-term effects of the spill. Read the complete story.

Latest in Marine Sciences
WUSF Chronicles First 100 Days Of Gulf Coast Oil Spill
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August 3, 2010

University of South Florida oceanographers David Hollander and Robert Weisberg; Bill Hogarth, dean of USF's College of Marine Science; and professor Edward Van Vleet are featured in a recent report chronicling the first 100 days of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf Coast. The article, available in text and audio format from WUSF Public Broadcasting, divulges the efforts of oceanographers from around Florida to accurately convey the severity of this event to the public. In the early days of the spill, the University of South Florida used its ocean-going research vessel -- the Weatherbird -- to answer three critical questions regarding the spill: how much oil was leaking from the well, where was it traveling and the effect of chemical dispersants used to reduce the amount of oil floating to the surface. Read and listen to the complete story.

Florida Institute Of Oceanography Receives $10 M Research Grant From BP
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June 22, 2010

As a result of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, BP has agreed to give The Florida Institute of Oceanography $10 million for research. The grant is intended to aid in Gulf Coast recovery and could result in long-term funding for the University of South Florida institute. Initial research will focus on gathering data of untouched waters and documenting the oil's effects as it spreads to those areas. The extent of the damage done to living organisms will also begin to be assessed. Read the complete story.

Sarasota’s Mote Marine Lab Awarded $60K Oil Spill Research Grant
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May 18, 2010

The board of directors of Gulf Coast Community Foundation of Venice recently approved a grant in the amount of $60,000 for the Mote Marine Laboratory in Sarasota. Mote will be using the grant to study the environmental impact of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf Coast. Among the laboratory's efforts are a sampling of water, sediments, bottom dwelling organisms and sea grass, as well as the activation of underwater robots to test for oil from the Tampa Bay area down to the Florida Keys. Read the complete story.

UT And USF Professors Tapped For National Geographic Shark Show
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May 18, 2010

Dan Huber, an assistant professor at the University of Tampa, and Phil Motta, a professor at the University of South Florida, were tapped to participate in a National Geographic show about bull and tiger sharks. The professors were flown to Bimini in the western Bahamas for a five-day trip consisting of research and filming. The show will air later this summer.Read the complete story.

USF St. Petersburg Boasts LEED-Certified Science And Technology Building
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Development News
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May 18, 2010

The new Science and Technology Building at USF St. Petersburg has earned a gold rating from the U.S. Green Building Council for its energy-efficient design and construction by Creative Contractors of Clearwater. The LEED-certified building, completed in February, has much to offer the community as well as students, says Josh Bomstein, vice president of Creative Contractors, More than half of the materials used to build the facility were locally extracted and manufactured. Eighty-five percent of the waste generated by the building's construction was recycled rather than sent to the landfill, which is equal to 1,159 tons of waste. Crews used the tilt-wall method to erect its walls.The 35,000-square-foot, two-story building, with a gold rating from the U.S. Green Building Council, will save nearly $80,000 in energy costs due to its reflective and insulated roof and low-emissivity glass that decreases heat, thus lowering air conditioning in summer and heating costs in winter. In addition, water-efficient fixtures lower water usage by 50 percent, which translates to 94,000 gallons of water saved annually. Florida-friendly landscaping and reclaimed water help keep water usage to a minimum as well.USF St. Petersburg's Harborwalk pedestrian mall unifies what was once a disjointed campus by providing a gathering place in front of a fountain donated by the Sembler family and ample open areas for recreation. Not only is the new mall conducive to walking and biking, but it is conveniently located to bus and trolley lines. Its garage offers preferred parking to energy-efficient vehicles.The Science and Technology Building houses eight classrooms and 13 labs. Lecterns are equipped with smart monitors, and tiered classrooms can be reconfigured to meet the needs of occupants. The building will host classes for the College of Arts & Sciences and labs for marine science research. Writer: Missy Kavanaugh Source: Josh Bomstein, Creative Contractors

USF Scientists Employ Patent-Pending Technology To Aid Oil Spill Relief
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May 11, 2010

The University of South Florida sent out a crew of marine scientists to aid in the Deepwater Horizon oil spill relief. The scientists will be conducting research aboard the Weatherbird II using a patent-pending device they've named SIPPER. This device allows researchers the ability to create images and capture data of zooplankton and droplets of oil too small to be seen by the human eye. These droplets create areas of toxic water, according to associate professor of biological oceanography Ernst Peebles. The researchers will attempt to find where these toxic waters are, how big they've become and how many animals are exposed to their danger. Read the complete story.

New Report Details Economic Growth in Pinellas County
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Development News
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May 4, 2010

Pinellas County Economic Development has released a new report on property conversions and new construction throughout the county. Here's a quick snapshot of projects that can be found on Yahoo's flickr and are presented in the report:Largo's Airco golf course and St. Petersburg's Toytown landfill are undergoing transformations in May. The former golf course will become a mixed-use aviation and business park. Toytown is to become a retail, office and residential space. SRI is moving into a 30,000-square-foot St. Petersburg facility and cigar maker Oettinger Davidoff is moving into the former Hunter Douglas facility in Pinellas Park. Palm Harbor's Geographic Solutions is moving downtown and Suncoast Hospice added a Community Service Center to its location on Tampa Road in Oldsmar. Tourists can chose between the Hotel Zamora on St. Pete beach, a Holiday Inn in Largo or the Hyattt Regency on Clearwater Beach. Medical businesses are expanding as well. St. Pete's All Children's Hospital, Largo Medical Center, and Gulfcoast Cancer Center have expanded their facilities recently, and Morton Plant Mease is adding a breast health facility. Bay Pines Veterans Administration is adding an eye treatment and surgery center, and new medical centers are now open at the Curlew Medical Center in Oldsmar along with the Trilogy Medical Center on McMullen Booth Road. "Pinellas County is very fortunate to have begun planning aggressively for redevelopment several years ago," says Cindy Margiotta, senior manager of operations at Pinellas County Economic Development. "Listening to the needs of our growing businesses, discussing land use best practices with our builders and working collaboratively with our citizens has allowed Pinellas to persevere with improvements." Writer: Missy KavanaughSource: Stacey Swank, Pinellas County EDC

ARCS Chapter Launches In Tampa Bay
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For Good
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March 16, 2010

The Achievement Rewards for College Scientists (ARCS) Foundation has launched a Tampa Bay chapter, making it the 17th charter chapter for this organization. The ARCS Foundation is a nonprofit organization founded in Los Angeles in 1955. This volunteer women's organization is committed to providing scholarships to academically outstanding U.S. citizens studying science, medicine and engineering. The ARCS Foundation-Tampa Bay launched its chapter with an inaugural luncheon and fundraiser event called, "Fashion and Fun Down to a Science." The March 12 event was held at the Renaissance Vinoy Resort and Golf Club. The goal was to raise funds to support two $15,000 scholarships that will be awarded to USF graduate students in the Colleges of Marine Science and Cancer Biology. USF will select the scholarship award recipients, says Karen Krymski, president for ARCS Tampa Bay and executive managing director for eWomen Network. ARCS Tampa Bay will serve as a recruitment tool attracting the best and brightest to the Tampa Bay region. "That's really what ARCS is really all about, the recruitment of the best and brightest students," says Krymski. "Scholarships are awarded to both men and women." Krymski advises that the formation of ARCS Foundation-Tampa Bay was a collaborative community effort. In addition to Krymski, founding officers include: Linda Seefeldt, president of AIM Above and vice president and president-elect for ARCS Tampa Bay; Janet Dickinson, CPA, financial systems consultant at Mills & Murphy Software Systems, Inc. and treasurer for ARCS Tampa Bay, and Elaine Bispo Smalling, vice president of the St. Petersburg Downtown Partnership and secretary of ARCS Tampa Bay. Also instrumental in bringing the organization to Tampa Bay were USF President Judy Genshaft, Peter Betzer, president and CEO of the St. Petersburg Downtown Partnership, Dr. Mya Breitbart of USF's College of Marine Sciences and Dr. Pamela Miller. ARCS Tampa Bay will be working on more initiatives and will introduce the community to more activities and events in the fall. "We really want to encourage like-minded women to be involved in ARCS," says Krymski. "We're looking for members, people for our steering committees and for corporations that have an interest in furthering science." For more information about ARCS Tampa Bay, contact Krymski at wizkk2@earthlink.net or 727-322-9596. Writer: Nancy Vaughn Source: Karen Krymski, ARCS Foundation-Tampa Bay

Desalination Plant Earns SWFTMD Funding
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March 16, 2010

Tampa Bay Water will receive $31.25 million in construction funding from the Southwest Florida Water Management District. The Tampa Bay Seawater Desalination plant successfully completed a four-part test to turn seawater into high-quality drinking water for the 2.5 million residents it serves in Hillsborough, Pasco and Pinellas counties.Read the complete story

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