NSF NIEHS OCEANS AND HUMAN HEALTH
CENTER EAC MEETING

The University of Miami NSF NIEHS Oceans and Human Health Center held their 3rd annual External Advisory Committee meeting and research poster session, February 18, 2007 in the RSMAS Library Map and Chart Room. The all day meeting began with presentations from the three research projects and the three facility cores. Following a day of presentations, the meeting broke out into two groups, one discussing HABs and the other discussing Microbes. Then the three EAC members, Dr. John Postlethwait, Dr. Carin Ashjian and Dr. Chris Scholin were given a tour of the various facilities utilized by OHHC personnel. The event was topped off with a research roster session featuring more than 25 Oceans and human health related posters.

Dr. Gary Hitchcock and Tim McLean	OHH EAC Poster Session
Xiofang Zhu discusses OHH Poster	OHH Amir Abdelzaher gives tour to EAC (pictured Dr. John Postlethwait and Dr. Chris Scholin

Photographer: Julie Hollenbeck, OHH Center Administrator

BENETTI KEYNOTES AQUACULTURE CONFERENCE

Dr. Daniel Benetti, MAF chair, was the key note speaker at the Arabian Seas International Conference on Science and Technology of Aquaculture, Fisheries and Oceanography (ASIC-STAFO) held in Kuwait, February 10-13, 2007. The ASIC-STAFO is a forum for disseminating information pertaining to the fields of aquaculture, fisheries and oceanography of the Arabian Seas. The main objectives of the conference are to: forge new links among regional and international oceanographers, fishery biologists, marine scientists and aquaculturists; and strengthen existing links between researchers involved in all aspects of aquaculture, fisheries, oceanography, marine ecology, taxonomy, and conservation science.

RECIPIENTS OF THE 2007 PEW FELLOWSHIP
IN MARINE CONSERVATION

Five individuals from Australia, Japan and the United States are recipients of the 2007 Pew Fellowship in Marine Conservation, awarded by the Pew Institute for Ocean Science. Each Fellow will receive $150,000 to conduct a three-year conservation project designed to address critical challenges to healthy oceans: two will focus on the challenges of global climate change in managing ocean ecosystems in the Bering Sea and Pacific Ocean, and the three others will explore new strategies to design and develop marine protected areas in Japan, the Philippines and Spain. The recipients join more than 100 Pew Marine Conservation Fellows from 27 countries.

The 2007 Pew Fellows in Marine Conservation and their projects are:

Dorothy Childers
Program director at the Alaska Marine Conservation Council in Anchorage, Alaska, Childers will address the challenges of fisheries management in the Bering Sea in the face of climate change.

Patrick Christie, Ph.D.
Assistant professor at the University of Washington's School of Marine Affairs and the Jackson School of International Studies, Christie will focus on the creation of marine protected area networks Philippines.

David Hyrenbach, Ph.D.
A research scientist at the Duke University Marine Laboratory and presently, a visiting scholar at the University of Washington's School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences, Hyrenbach will evaluate marine protected areas for highly-mobile marine vertebrates in the Alborán Sea.

Hiroyuki Matsuda, Ph.D.
A professor at the Yokohama National University in Yokohama and the first Pew Fellow in Marine Conservation from Japan, Matsuda will develop a marine management plan for the Shiretoko World Natural Heritage site in the Sea of Okhotsk.

Thomas Okey, Ph.D.
A senior quantitative marine ecologist with the Department of Marine and Atmospheric Research at the Australian Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO) in Australia, Okey will research impacts of climate change on the marine ecosystems of North American and Australian Pacific ocean regions.

For more information go to: http://www.pewoceanscience.org/fellowssite/new-fellows.php.

OUTSTANDING STUDENT PAPER AWARD

On behalf of the Ocean Sciences Section of the American Geophysical Union, Ivan Savelyev was selected to receive an Outstanding Student Paper Award for his presentation at the 2006 Fall Meeting. His presentation was recognized as among the best of a strong group of student presenters, which sets an example for your fellow students and the entire AGU membership.
Outstanding Student Paper Award winners will be announced in an upcoming publication of EOS, the weekly newspaper of AGU, and he will be receiving a formal certificate of achievement from AGU.

Submitted by Brian K. Haus
Research Associate Professor

UH Manoa Climate Scientist Receives Prestigious
Rosenstiel Award in Oceanographic Science

HONOLULU – UH climate scientist Axel Timmermann has been selected as the 33rd recipient of the prestigious Rosenstiel Award in Oceanographic Science for his outstanding achievement and growing impact on ocean science. The award is given annually to honor a scientist who has made significant contributions to marine science in one of six broad areas: meteorology and physical oceanography; marine geology and geophysics; marine and atmospheric chemistry; marine biology and fisheries; applied marine physics, and marine affairs and policy.

Timmermann is associate professor of oceanography and research team leader at the International Pacific Research Center, the climate research center at the University of Hawaii, Manoa. He conducts research into the role of the ocean in changing climates, especially in climates extending back hundreds of thousands of years. Computer climate models, which represent in mathematical terms the interactions among the atmosphere, oceans, land surface, and ice, are his major tools. His aim is to provide the field of climate research with a better understanding of climate processes, to improve the skill of the models in simulating climate realistically, and to reduce their uncertainties in projecting future climate.

In 1981, another famous oceanographer from the University of Hawaii received the Rosenstiel Award: Oceanography Professor Klaus Wyrtki, who provided a key piece to the El Niño puzzle that helped in forecasting such events.

Timmermann will officially receive the award this spring during a banquet held at the Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science at the University of Miami. The award consists of a gold medal and $10,000. During his visit, Timmermann will be giving several talks to both public and scientific audiences.

The International Pacific Research Center (IPRC) of the School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology (SOEST) at the University of Hawaii at Manoa, is a climate research center founded to gain greater understanding of the climate system and the nature and causes of climate variation in the Asian-Pacific region, and to develop information on how global climate changes may affect the region. Established under the “ U.S.-Japan Common Agenda for Cooperation in Global Perspective” in October 1997, the IPRC is a collaborative effort between Japan and the United States.

Join your friends from the University of Miami on a unique oceanographic adventure aboard Explorer of the Seas, one of the largest cruise ships in the world and the only one outfitted with UM marine scientists and state-of-the-art science labs and sensors! Celebrated oceanographer and author Dr. Ellen Prager, (seen on The Today Show, Good Morning America, and the Discovery Channel) is the Explorer scientist of the week, accompanying guests and presenting stimulating talks on marine science and climate change.

Ports of Call: Miami; Labadee, Haiti; and Ocho Rios, Jamaica

Cost: $469/person
All-inclusive with Class “M” cabins, meals, and customized shore excursions in Labadee and Ocho Rios, taxes and gratuities. Similar discounted rates available for other staterooms and suites.

Space is very limited. Reservations by credit card are required by Monday, March 7th!

Contact: Doug Ray, Assistant Dean of Advancement, UM Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science, at d.ray@miami.edu or at 305/421-4061.

• Office paper (including windowed envelopes, colored office paper, staples are ok – but NO glossy paper, magazines, phone books, etc)
• Cardboard (dumpster located in NW corner of front parking lot)
• Commingled plastic (#1 - #7), glass, and metal containers
(cans located behind the Commons – please use at lunch as well, Parties by Pat will be asked to provide the green recycling can more consistently in the Commons during lunch hours)
In addition to the recyclables that count toward our school total for RecycleMania, here are some other recycling options on campus that you are encouraged to utilize:
• Batteries (take directly to the Facilities office)
• Used / Old computer parts/electronics (Must fill out an IDR [available through facilities office] for property surplus of Main Campus to pick up)

RSMAS HOSTS THE 2007 AAUS/MIAMI SYMPOSIUM

This year the American Academy of Underwater Science will present 3 days of informative presentations and dive activities on the Rosenstiel campus. There will be talks on benthic work and fish studies as well on diving techniques and technologies. There will be a good mix of topics as well as a poster session. For a more detailed look at the symposium presentation schedule checkout the AAUS website.

For those of you that are interested in going a little deeper or using helium as a breathing gas alternative to air, Doug Kesling will be doing a Helium Diving workshop that covers the basic theory and techniques used in this type of diving. This is a 2-day workshop that includes classroom, pool and open water work. This is also a quick reminder to make sure you bring the appropriate paperwork with you for the diving portions of this workshop. This workshop takes place March 5-6th.
Bob Weisman (FIU DSO), and staff, will hold a Boating Workshop covering basic concerns many of us face administering a small day boat programs. Bob has planned for some boat time on the water as well as classwork. If you're tasked with administering a boating program this workshop is for you. This workshop takes place March 7th.

Eric Douglas and AAUS's very own Bill Dent will be doing DAN Diving First Aid for Professional Divers (DFA) instructor crossover courses. The DFA course combines the different AAUS safety requirements (CPR/FA/O2 Admin) into one course. This format reduces information overlap, class time, cost, and paperwork. If these benefits interest you, check out the AAUS website for more details on this course. This workshop takes place March 7th.

Mark Gresham of Professional Scuba Inspectors (PSI) will lead a PSI Cylinder Inspector class on how to properly visually inspect SCUBA cylinders for damage. This is a great course for techs or anyone who will be doing this sort of equipment inspection. For more details checkout the PSI website at http://www.psicylinders.com. This workshop takes place March 7th.

There is also a half-day dive excursion that will take divers out to some of the local wrecks and reefs just off the coast of Miami. For those of you coming down from the cooler areas this provides you with an opportunity to shed your heavy winter wetsuits and drysuits and be reminded of what warm water diving is like. Water temps at this writing are approx. 74°F. The dive excursion is offered on March 7th.

You can register on the AAUS website. Rick Riera-Gomez, Dive Officer

UPCOMING SEA SECRETS LECTURES

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2007
Nature’s Greatest Color Change
Artist: The Octopus
By Dr. Roger Hanlon, Senior Scientist
Marine Biological Laboratory,
Woods Hole, MA

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 21, 2007
Exploring the Underwater
Caves of the Bahamas
By Mr. Brian Kakuk
Cave Diving Expert

THURSDAY, APRIL 26, 2007
Reefs of the Past: What They
Tell Us About Today’s
Coral Gardens
By Dr. Noel James, Professor "
and Research Chair
Queen’s University, Ontario, Canada

WEDNESDAY, MAY 23, 2007
A Photographic Journey Undersea:
The Creatures of the Coral Reef
By Mr. Myron Wang
Underwater Photographer/
Environmentalist