News & Events

Gene Shinn wins the Twenhofel Award

Dr. Gene Shinn, who retired from the USGS after more than 30 years, will receive the 2009 William H. Twenhofel Medal from the Society of Sedimentary Geology (SEPM). The highest award given by the SEPM, the Twenhofel Medal is awarded annually to a person for his or her "Outstanding Contributions to Sedimentary Geology."

Nominees are chosen for having made outstanding contributions to paleontology, sedimentology, stratigraphy, and/or allied scientific disciplines. The contributions normally involve extensive personal research, but may involve some combination of research, teaching, administration, or other activities which have notably advanced scientific knowledge in Sedimentary Geology.

According to Gray Multer, a geologist well-known for his work in the carbonate environments of the Bahamas and Florida, "Congratulations to Gene Shinn for being awarded the prestigious Twenhofel Medal by the Society for Sedimentary Geology The honor is long overdue. As a lifelong friend I have always been impressed with his ability to often perceive truths before others do, to warn us of risks, and to seek realistic and appropriate solutions. Some important challenges he alone has solved yet stays open for dialog. We are lucky to have Gene Shinn on our side."

As a researcher dedicated to working in the field, Gene encourages discussion and innovative thinking. He is never afraid to speak his mind or get on the hot seat amidst controversy and heated discussion. Gene joins the ranks of some very distinguished geologists such as Bouma, Folk, Ginsburg, Imbrie, Schlager, and Vail, who have shaped major concepts in understanding earth processes and history. Congratulations Gene!

William H. Twenhofel (1875-1957) Yale PhD (1912), is regarded as the "patriarch of sedimentary geology", was member of the National Research Council, and retired in 1945 from an illustrious academic career at the University of Wisconsin Madison. The Department of Geology at the University of Wisconsin has been one of the top programs in the US for decades. Twenhofel co-founded the Journal of Sedimentary Petrology (now, Journal of Sedimentary Research) one of premier journals in this field.

Gene will receive the award at the Society's annual meeting in Denver June, 2009.

The Florida Integrated Science Center

"No Child Left Inside" is the theme for the 2008 Open House. Learn how scientists monitor earth processes in many different natural systems. By measuring, monitoring, and observing, scientists keep track of many fascinating secrets of our natural world. Come visit with scientists and see how you can explore our changing planet.

You can learn how scientists monitor the daily life of turtles and sturgeons, measure how hurricanes rearrange our coastlines, keep track of where water goes and why flooding occurs, monitor manatee movements, predict volcanic eruptions, and how we use that information to help us predict future changes.

The USGS will host more than 40 interactive booths that highlight USGS science activities and also those of many of our community partners.

The event will take place on two days at the Florida Integrated Science Center St. Petersburg Office.

The first day is "Open House for the General Public and Educators," Wednesday, November 5, 2008, from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. A special exhibit will feature free educational resources.

The "Annual Earth Science Day for Fourth Graders" will take place Thursday, November 6, 2008, from 8:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

USGS Science in USA Today Article

USGS participation in the 11th Coral Reef Symposium was included in an article in USA Today on July 13.

Read the article: Rough seas: One-third of coral reef species face extinction

USGS scientist Ginger Garrison was interviewed by National Geographic

USGS scientist Ginger Garrison was interviewed by National Geographic about her presentation on the impact of dust on coral reefs.

Read the July 14 article: Tainted African Dust Clouds Harm U.S., Caribbean Reefsposted: 2008-07-24

Using Science to Stay Informed and Prepared for Hurricanes

More than half of the U.S. population lives within 50 miles of a coastline. Hurricanes affect the Atlantic and Gulf coasts and as population and development trends escalate in coastal areas, future storms will inflict greater destruction. The USGS web page offers resources and tools used to assess coastal changes and coastal vulnerabilities to extreme storms that may help emergency planners better prepare themselves for a potential landfall.

• Aerial photography both before and after a hurricane demonstrates the impact of extreme storms on coastal environments. See collections of before and after photos: http://coastal.er.usgs.gov/hurricanes/isabel/
  
  
• Lidar maps of coastlines before and after extreme storm events are used to analyze coastal change. Learn how beaches respond to waves and storm surge. An example after Hurricane Isabel is shown here: http://coastal.er.usgs.gov/hurricanes/isabel/lidar.html
  
  
• Maps of potential inundation of the beach system during direct hurricane landfall are created and shown here: http://coastal.er.usgs.gov/nps-beaches/

When a hurricane approaches the coast, USGS scientists will update potential inundation maps. Please visit: http://coastal.er.usgs.gov/hurricanes/

USGS St. Petersburg Dedicates New Building

Jack Kindinger, Associate Center Director of the Florida Integrated Science Center - St. Petersburg, welcomed Congressman C.W. Bill Young; USGS Deputy Director Robert Doyle; Florida Integrated Science Center Director Barry Rosen, USGS Oceanographer Lisa Robbins, University of South Florida President Judy Genshaft; Peter Betzer, President and CEO of the St. Petersburg Downtown Partnership, and Martin Normile of the Community Foundation of Tampa Bay to the dedication ceremony of USGS - St. Petersburg's newest building.

The 11,400 square-foot building, which features six state-of-the-art labs, a dive locker, and 12 offices, is the third within the USGS campus and is the latest addition to the C.W. Bill Young Marine Science Complex located along the waterfront in downtown St. Petersburg. The C.W. Bill Young Marine Science Complex consists of the USF College of Marine Science and its Center for Ocean Technology, the USGS Florida Integrated Science Center, the Fish and Wildlife Research Institute of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, the Tampa Bay Estuary Program, the Southwest Regional Office of the National Marine Fisheries Service, Florida Sea Grant, Eckerd College, and the Florida Institute of Oceanography.

Dr. Chris Kellogg's guest blog post on Deep Sea News

Christina Kellogg is featured as a guest blogger on Deep Sea News. Here is an excerpt from the blog:

"Corals don't usually know what country they are living in, and those that do assure me that it does not affect their biology, just their politics. So, imagine the enthusiasm greeting the announcement of an Atlantic Ocean-wide research program to study coldwater coral ecosystems. That's right, we're talking about big picture science from the ground (or seafloor) up!"

Read the blog: http://scienceblogs.com/deepseanews/2008/03/science_beyond_borders.phpposted: 2008-03-14

USGS FISC scientist Ilsa Kuffner to participate in press conference at the 2008 Ocean Sciences Meeting Orlando, March 4, 2008

Ilsa Kuffner will be participating in a press conference based upon the findings of the Ocean Science Meeting Session #144 "Coral Reefs: Impacts of Environmental Alterations and Climate Change on Coral Biology and Biogeochemistry, and Links Between Dissolved Organic Matter." Three abstracts were chosen from the session to participate in the press conference. Ilsa will be joined on the panel by Andrea Grottoli (Ohio State University) and Christopher Shank (University of Texas at Austin).

The press conference will occur in room W307D at 10:00AM, March 4, 2008.

More information: 2008 Ocean Sciences Meeting

USGS scientists participate in international science plan workshop on deep-sea coral ecosystems

Florida Integrated Science Center scientists Amanda Demopoulos and Christina Kellogg, along with Leetown Science Center scientist Cheryl Morrison, are participating in the TRACES (Trans-Atlantic Coral Ecosystem Study) workshop February 28 and 29 at University of North Carolina’s Center for Marine Science in Wilmington, North Carolina. The meeting, which is partly sponsored by the USGS, is one of two international meetings planned to bring together scientists and partners to develop a science plan for future deep coral research. One of the workshop organizers is Dr. J. Murray Roberts, who presented a seminar at FISC St. Pete in January 2008. This collaboration relies on cooperation between Canada, the European Union and the United States. TRACES program development also is supported by the Royal Society of Edinburgh and a Marie Curie International fellowship grant from the European Commission.

Benefits of this research include:

• Better understanding of North Atlantic climate history and ecology using cold-water coral records.
• Better understanding genetic and ‘biodiversity’ links among Atlantic coral ecosystems used to develop sound long-term conservation management policies.
• Develop expertise and international partnerships between Canada, E.C. and U.S.
• Raise public understanding and awareness of these hidden coral worlds.

The other workshop will be held in March in Portugal. http://www.lophelia.org/traces/meetings/meetings.htm

USGS FISC St. Petersburg hosts Sea Grant Gulf of Mexico Research Planning Workshop

USGS Florida Integrated Science Center St. Petersburg is hosting a Sea Grant Gulf of Mexico Research Planning Workshop on February 19, 2008. Over 75 participants are expected to attend this workshop, which is one of five being held as part of the Gulf of Mexico Research Plan. The mission is to prioritize research needs for the Gulf of Mexico for 2006-2011 by working through regional stakeholder inputs and implementation strategies.

More information: Gulf of Mexico Research Planposted: 2008-02-15

Abby Sallenger and Arturo Torres were interviewed by Roy DeJesus of Bay News 9 en espanol

Abby Sallenger and Arturo Torres were interviewed by Roy DeJesus of Bay News 9 en espanol, a local television channel broadcasting news 24-hours a day in spanish. Abby talked about future coastal impacts in Florida using present trends observed in Louisiana as a likely scenario for Florida in the next 50 to 100 years. Arturo also reviewed climate change in terms of Earth history and human impacts but conducted his interview in Spanish. Their interviews are part of a 5-part series on climate change and sea-level rise impacts in Florida. It will likely air within a few weeks.

More infomation: Bay News 9 en espanol

posted: 2008-02-15

Global Climate Change and Sea-Level Rise in Florida A Conversation Between Scientists and the Media

February 6, 2008
University of South Florida St. Petersburg
To be held at the Poynter Institute for Media Studies
801 Third Street South, St. Petersburg, Florida

This intensive day-long training will help scientists and journalists communicate more effectively with each other and therefore with the public. By helping scientists and the media work more productively together, the conference will facilitate the flow of critical scientific information to the public and policy makers. The topic of this conference is the predicted effects of global climate change and the susceptibility of coastal Florida to a one-meter sea level rise.

More information: Science and Media

Coral Reef Builders Vulnerable to Ocean Acidification

USGS News Release: 1/4/2008 6:39:20 PM.

As pH declines in the world's oceans, the effects on coral reefs could be more harmful than previously thought. This pH decline, a process known as "ocean acidification," occurs due to absorption of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. As a result, the growth of reef builders may be severely inhibited.

More information: USGS News Release

Strategic Science for Coral Ecosystems

Shallow and deep coral ecosystems are being imperiled by a combination of stressors. Climate change, unsustainable fishing practices, and disease are transforming coral communities at regional to global scales. At local levels, excessive amounts of sediments, nutrients, and contaminants are also impacting the many benefits that healthy coral ecosystems provide.

This Plan, Strategic Science for Coral Ecosystems, describes the information needs of resource managers and summarizes current research being conducted by U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) scientists and partners. It outlines important research actions that need to be undertaken over the next five years to achieve more accurate forecasting of future conditions and develop more effective decision-support tools to adaptively manage coral ecosystems.

The overarching outcome of this Plan, if fully implemented, would be in transferring relevant knowledge to decision-makers, enabling them to better protect and sustain coral ecosystem services. These services include sources of food, essential habitat for fisheries and protected species, protection of coastlines from wave damage and erosion, recreation, and cultural values for indigenous communities.

Read the plan: Strategic Science for Coral Ecosystems (837 KB PDF)

USGS Oceanographer Abby Sallenger recognized for Communications

The USGS Office of Communications and Outreach recognized USGS Oceanographer Abby Sallenger for Lifetime Achievement in Communication.

Read more: Abby Sallenger recognized for Communications

USGS To Host Congressional Briefings on How Science is Used to Respond to Hurricanes

Media Advisory: 1/24/2008 12:04:56 PM

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) will host Congressional briefings on how science can be used to prepare for and react to hurricanes and will issue a new report, "Science and the Storms: The USGS Response to the Hurricanes of 2005." The peer-reviewed report covers scientific studies performed after Hurricanes Dennis, Katrina, Rita, and Wilma. Some of this response took place days after the hurricanes; other responses included fieldwork and analysis through the spring of 2006.

More information: Media Advisory

The Florida Integrated Science Center's 9th Annual Open House and Earth Science Day

The "Pulse of Earth Science" was the theme for the 2007 Open House. Keeping track of earth processes on our changing planet is much of what scientists do. Scientists monitor the pulse of many different natural systems. By measuring, monitoring, and observing, scientists keep track of many fascinating secrets of our natural world. Come visit with scientists and see how they keep their fingers on the pulse of our changing planet.

Read more: Florida Integrated Science Center's Annual Open House