Rising Tides: August 2020 Edition

Rising Tides Newsletter - August 2020

Hello to our CMS friends and family, near and far! We hope you are safe and healthy.

We are gearing up for the fall semester, which kicks off August 24th in a mostly virtual format. It’s been challenging to maintain a semblance of sanity when we can’t be out and about in our favorite places, or with each other—but we are CMS strong. We do our best, we help each other, and we forge ahead.

Lots to share in this edition! At the top of the list: We again welcome Dr. Tom Frazer, who started as our new Dean on August 3rd.

We also launched a new website with a new address: www.usf.edu/marine-science. (If you try the old one, it will still work.) The launch was part of the terms of USF’s consolidation. We welcome your thoughts on the new site (Email us at [email protected]).

COVID-19 Wastewater Surveillance Program Launches in Costa Rica

“Without our work with USF on the MERA Investigation, we would not have been prepared to take on this challenge,” said Darner Mora Alvarado, MPh, director of the Costa Rican Water and Sewage Authority’s Water Laboratory.

Perspectives on COVID-19

We spoke with three members of the College of Marine Science community about the impacts of the coronavirus on their work. See what they had to say in our special three-part series.

Wanna Get Away?

Take a 60-second dive with Chris Stallings’ group. They have conducted reef surveys in the Gulf of Mexico and Tampa Bay for the last seven years.

Back to the Future

Did you know that what happens in Antarctica will affect our backyard (and likely yours, too)?! Here’s a glimpse into some of our marine geology research in Antarctica, which requires a tussle with time.

Noise in the Data, or a Treasure to Behold?

Don Chambers’ latest scientific venture involves studying the deepest ocean currents. From space. “What can I say?” said Chambers. “I’ve always liked a challenge.”

A Disappearing Act

Boris Galperin, gets to the bottom of the eddies and waves that govern so many processes in the ocean and atmosphere. His latest pub in the Physics of Fluids was the Editor’s Pick!

Steve Butcher Retires After 20 Years

Steve Butcher has been a mainstay at the College of Marine Science and Center for Ocean Technology for as long as many of us can remember. He retired at the end of July. Enjoy Chad Lembke’s farewell tribute to our friend and colleague.

Congratulations & Awards

Congratulations, Summer 2020 Grads! Check out our virtual celebration and toast to five CMS graduates, held the day before USF’s online graduation ceremony.
Congrats, Dr. Chuanmin Hu, who was elected to the Academy of Science, Engineering and Medicine of Florida!
Congrats, Carey Schafer! Carey’s been a tremendous asset to the CMS Communications team this summer. We’re sad to see her go but excited to watch her soar as a policy fellow.
Congrats, Cliff Merz, named a Senior Member of the National Academy of Inventors!
Congrats to the 2020-2021 Graduate Student Endowed Fellowship Recipients! Congrats as well to the following awardees. We look forward to celebrating you all during the October awards ceremony, to be held virtually this year:
Renate E. Bernstein Outstanding Authorship Award: Loraine Martell-Bonet
David K. Costello Interdisciplinary Engineering Award: Randy Russell
Sackett Prize for Innovative Research: Matthew Birk
Congrats to Christina Welsh, who was awarded the Suncoast Fly Fishers Scholarship Award and the FFI Conservation Award.

140 7th Avenue South St. Petersburg, Florida 33701