LITTLE SALT SPRING EXHIBIT OPENS
AT SARASOTA HISTORY CENTER

Shown above, a diagram of Liitle Salt Spring from the cover of Science magazine February 16, 1979

Never-before-displayed artifacts make their debut at an opening reception for "Dive into the Past: An Exhibit on the Little Salt Spring Archaeological Site," at the Sarasota County History Center, 701 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota, opened on February 3. The exhibit will run from February 4 to May 26, featuring an assortment of Paleoindian relics that Rosenstiel School researchers and students have excavated.

Gifted to the University in 1982, Little Salt Spring in North Port, Fla., was first discovered as an archeological site in the late 1950s. The 240-foot deep, hourglass-shaped spring is fed from an underground source that has no dissolved oxygen in the water. Consequently, bacteria cannot grow and decompose wood and other organic materials, offering unique artifact preservation. Subsequent archeological explorations took place in the 1970s, yielding artifacts that date to more than 12,000 years ago. The University has been excavating the site since 1992, conducting an interdisciplinary field school for its undergraduate and graduate students. Meticulous technique and very minimal funding have mostly limited excavation progress to only what can be accomplished in an annual two-week field class.

As recently as June, Rosenstiel School Associate Professor and Little Salt Spring Principal Investigator Dr. John Gifford led a group of researchers who unearthed two unique burial artifacts estimated to be approximately 8,000 years old; a greenstone pendant and another stone artifact that appeared to be part of a spear-thrower.

Because 95 percent of the sinkhole remains unexplored, many believe the most revealing lessons in history await discovery.

NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC RECOGNIZES ROSENSTIEL
SCHOOL RESEARCHER AS 'INSPIRING ADVENTURER'

Dr. Broad caving in Huautla Plateau, Oaxaca, Mexico

Environmental Anthropologist Kenny Broad has been selected for the National Geographic 2006 Emerging Explorer Award. This title is bestowed annually to eight rising talents who push the boundaries of discovery, adventure, and global problem-solving, and prizes the up-and-comers with $10,000. National Geographic selected Dr. Broad for its 2006 group because of his unique perspectives on the relationship between climate, society, and natural resource management, and for his work exploring challenging underwater environments.

Dr. Broad received his Ph.D. from Columbia University in 1999 and is an assistant professor of Marine and Atmospheric Science in the Division of Marine Affairs and Policy, and the Center for Ecosystem Science and Policy. He holds a joint appointment at Columbia University's Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory. Working in the United States, Latin America and the Caribbean, Dr. Broad studies climate impacts and human perception, the use and misuse of scientific information, decision making under uncertainty, marine protected areas and issues of societal equity. This work involves close collaboration with hydrologists, oceanographers, economists, ecologists, and climatologists. Dr. Broad has taken part in and led scientific and film expeditions around the globe, including the exploration of one of the world's deepest caves in Mexico's Huautla Plateau, and is featured in the recent book, titled Beyond the Deep: The Deadly Descent Into the World's Most Treacherous Cave.

"It's a nice surprise since I had no idea I was nominated. Actually, when I got the e-mail notice I though it was SPAM and didn't reply at first" Dr. Broad said. "The funding will go toward an interdisciplinary expedition to the Bahamas to map, study, and film the cultural and ecological significance of the underwater caves, locally referred to as 'boiling holes.' It's an ecosystem that means a lot to both humans and to the health of the wider environment and is very understudied."

POST HURRICANE SEASON PHOTOS

Helena Molina-Urena submitted these two photos to Soundings of the Virginia Key area around January 15th as she was heading towards MIA.

AWARD-WINNING DEAN

Otis B. Brown, right, dean of the Rosenstiel School, has won the 2006 Charles Franklin Brooks Award by the American Meteorological Society (AMS), the nation's leading professional society for those in the atmospheric and related sciences.

The award for "valuable services as Councilor and member of the Planning Commission in expanding the awareness and outreach of the Society in Oceanography, Remote Sensing and Information Technology, Education and Climate" was presented at the AMS 86th Annual Meeting in Atlanta. The Brooks Award is presented to an individual who has made important contributions to the Society, usually over a period of years. The award is named for Charles Franklin Brooks, who founded the AMS.

A pioneering specialist in the use of satellite remote sensing for ocean observations, Dr. Brown has been at the Rosenstiel School since 1973. He has published widely on the application of satellite observations to the understanding of oceanic processes and has served on numerous national and international scientific committees including: the U.S. Joint Global Ocean Flux Study, the Joint Committee on Global Ocean Observing Systems and the NOAA Advisory Panel on Climate and Global Change. His most recent awards include NASA's Public Service Group Achievement Award and election as a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science.

Dean Brown holds a Ph.D. in physics with a specialization in underwater optics and an M.S. in theoretical physics from the University of Miami; and a B.S. in physics from North Carolina State University.

HENRI AND ADELE BADER LECTURE

The third presentation of the Henri and Adele Bader Lectureship featured Dr. W. Kendall "Ken" Melville, Professor of Oceanography at Scripps Institution of Oceanography. Ken spent three days with the RSMAS community from January 25 to 27, delivering a total of three talks on "Upper Ocean Processes: Implications for Weather and Climate". He gave a general interest talk to a large crowd in the RSMAS auditorium; addressed advanced high school students at nearby MAST Academy; and delivered a technical talk geared toward our Applied Marine Physics division. Each talk catered to its respective audience and was well received.

The Bader Lecture is an annual event since 2000. G.J. and Naomi O. Wasserburg endowed the Henri and Adele Bader Lectureship at Rosenstiel to honor Henri Bader, the famous glaciologist. The divisions of Meteorology and Physical Oceanography (MPO), Applied Marine Physics (AMP), and Marine Geology and Geophysics (MGG) take turns each year selecting the Bader lecturer. AMP, particularly Professor and Chair Mike Brown, coordinated this year's Lecture.

Above, Dr. Melville addressing students at MAST Academy on January 27, 2006

ROSENSTIEL SCHOOL HOSTS LEADERSHIP MIAMI

The Rosenstiel School hosted the 2005-2006 class of Leadership Miami for a focus session on the environment on Saturday, February 4. Dr. Dennis Hansell, Professor and Chair of Marine and Atmospheric Chemistry, gave an overview of RSMAS and Dr. Peter Ortner, Chief Scientist at AOML and Adjunct Professor at RSMAS, presented "Everglades Restoration and NOAA's South Florida Regional Observing System. Chris Hernandez, Recreation Leader at Marjory Stoneman Douglas Biscayne Nature Center, also spoke about the ecology of Virginia Key and Key Biscayne.

Leadership Miami is an annual program through the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce targeted toward men and women interested in making Miami a better place to live and to work. Its mission is to cultivate leaders from all segments of our community by educating, developing and encouraging individuals to be active leaders in their community and the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce. Miami's future leaders begin with this program. Annually, the University of Miami sponsors a team of employees to participate in this program. Karen Wilkening, Rosenstiel's Manager of Alumni and Outreach, is among this year's participants.

Dennis Hansell, left, and Peter Ortner

Author Ellen Prager signing her book for young fan.

ADVENTURE ON DOLPHIN ISLAND

Dr. Ellen Prager's interactive marine science presentation on her latest fiction book, Adventure on Dolphin Island drew a diverse crowd. The event took place in the RSMAS Auditorium on Saturday, January 28. Fantastic weather hindered attendance some, yet students from more than 12 area middle and elementary schools came out for this exciting event. Dr. Prager read excerpts from her book and discussed topics including bioluminescence, coral reef preservation, and marine animal behavior. Students in attendance received a complimentary copy of Adventure on Dolphin Island, which Ellen signed following her presentation. This presentation was part of the Rosenstiel School's outreach program.

TURN OFF THE JUICE CAMPAIGN

RSMAS Facilities Administration spent close to $20,000 to purchase new energy efficient campus lighting. It will be used to retrofit the less efficient existing lighting fixtures. The refurbishment of the applicable fixtures will be done by the Physical Plant staff over the coming months. Since lighting is a major portion of the campus energy bill, this will help lower energy consumption and minimize the RSMAS impact on the environment.

Everyone can do their part by shutting off lights, including in the rest rooms. Just like you do at home, if you are the last one out of the room, turn off the light.

The "turn off the juice" stickers on all the switches are a reminder that we can all help stop energy waste on campus.

Ray Alfonso
Facilities/Physical Plant

WALKERS ENJOY HEALTHY BREAKFAST
ON THE DEAN'S OFFICE

Those who participated in the fall Walking 'Canes program were invited to a healthy breakfast of yogurt, fruit and whole grain cereals and bread in the Dean's conference room on February 8th. Marilyn Greene, our high scoring participant, received a $25 Borders gift certificate donated by the Advancement Office for scoring over 300 points. Others gift certificates and RSMAS logo items were given away as door prizes.

Standing: Maria Aldana, Nicole Iyescas, Ann Campbell, Debbie Willey, Xiarong Zhu
Seated: Amel Saied, Jennifer Fritz and daughter Samantha and Silvia Garzoli, NOAA.