MIAMI — May 8, 2013 –The University of Miami (UM) Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science is one of the world's premier marine and atmospheric research institutions. The Annual School-wide Awards Ceremony is where graduate students are presented with awards recognizing their scholarly achievement and fellowships to help further their education at the Rosenstiel School.

"The award ceremony is a celebration of the many achievements of our graduate students with a total of $62K being awarded to support the excellent research conducted by our students at the Rosenstiel School," said Dr. Martin Grosell, associate dean for graduate studies.

Held on Friday, May 3 in the F. G. Walton Smith Commons on Virginia Key, the 2013 ceremony was attended by Dr. Roni Avissar, dean of the Rosenstiel School and Grosell, and dozens of students and faculty. The following outstanding students were honored:                                                         
F.G. Walton Smith Prize                            
Dr. Bhatuan Osmanoglu (Marine Geology & Geophysics)

Koczy Prize                                                  
Ross Cunning (Marine Biology & Fisheries)

Frank J. Millero Prize                                            
Ross Cunning (Marine Biology & Fisheries)

Alumni Fellowship 
Katinka Bellomo (Meteorology & Physical Oceanography)
Patrick Rynne (Applied Marine Physics)
Christine Beggs (Marine Affairs & Policy)
Dominique Lazarre (Marine Biology & Fisheries) 
Xayamara Serrano (Marine Biology & Fisheries)         

Mary Roche Fellowship
Sharein El-Tourky (Marine Biology & Fisheries)        
Francesca Forrestal (Marine Biology & Fisheries)       

F.C. and Coreda B. Wallace Fellowship
Theodore Allen (Meteorology & Physical Oceanography)
Noelle Van Ee (Marine Geology & Geophysics)

Luis Aaron Reitmeister Fellowship
Paul Jones (Marine Biology & Fisheries)

David Rowland Fellowship
Esther Goldstein (Marine Biology & Fisheries)
Paul Jones (Marine Biology & Fisheries)

Harry D. Vernon Scholarship/                               
Matthew Archer (Meteorology & Physical Oceanography)

Yamaha Contender Billfish Tournament
Karlisa Callwood (Abess Center for Ecosystem Science & Policy)
Francesca Forrestal (Marine Biology & Fisheries)
Esther Goldstein (Marine Biology & Fisheries)
Atsushi Fujimura (Applied Marine Physics)
Adam Greer (Marine Biology & Fisheries)
David Shiffman (Abess Center for Ecosystem Science & Policy)

Cooper Slonim Award                                             
Hada Herring (UM Master's of Professional Science)

This marked the inaugural Cooper Slonim Award, which was established by the Slonim family for Excellence in Ocean stewardship. The award recognizes a graduate student who exhibits leadership, service, and diplomacy while participating in the University of Miami's Master's of Professional Science. Slonim family members Kelli and her son, Cooper, were on hand for the presentation. 

About the University of Miami's Rosenstiel School
The University of Miami's mission is to educate and nurture students, to create knowledge, and to provide service to our community and beyond. Committed to excellence and proud of the diversity of our University family, we strive to develop future leaders of our nation and the world. Founded in the 1940's, the Rosenstiel School of Marine & Atmospheric Science has grown into one of the world's premier marine and atmospheric research institutions. Offering dynamic interdisciplinary academics, the Rosenstiel School is dedicated to helping communities to better understand the planet, participating in the establishment of environmental policies, and aiding in the improvement of society and quality of life. For more information, please visit www.rsmas.miami.edu.

MIAMI – May 6, 2013 – Exploring the planet just became a little easier thanks to the University of Miami (UM).  The Abess Center for Ecosystem Science and Policy, in collaboration with the Rosenstiel School of Marine & Atmospheric Science have teamed up to launch a new Master's degree in Exploration Science.   Offered as part of the innovative Master's of Professional Science (MPS) program, the new track gives students the tools to satisfy their thirst for expedition driven scientific inquiry and field-based communication by providing critical exploration skills. Deadline for enrollment in the new class has been extended through July 15, 2013.

"Successful exploration involves a mix of scientific and practical skills as well as sensitivity to the ethical and cultural dimensions of working in different parts of our globe. In complement, new technologies allow researchers to communicate and share the experience of discovery—from the nosebleed heights to unimaginable depths­—with an audience beyond just scientists.  We believe that a specialized curriculum combining risk assessment, decision sciences, and hands-on training in skills ranging from navigation to science diving to remote medicine can further the next generation of explorers," said Dr. Kenny Broad, director of the Abess Center and 2011 National Geographic Explorer of the Year.

As scientific endeavors become increasingly specialized, projects require people with advanced degrees who have hands-on research and media experience. This program will be of value for scientists wishing to further their field skills, communication specialists who want to participate safely in remote field campaigns, and anyone who wants to be involved in the wider, growing efforts at citizen science and experiential education.

The Exploration Science curriculum combines scientific research theory and field skills will be tailored to the student's specific interests. The program can be completed in 12-18 months, with significant components done in the field, and a 3-6 month internship.

"Our MPS program is a very attractive option for students interested in acquiring the skills that prepare them to enter today's workforce, and the new Exploration Science offers a unique track for graduate students desiring to work in scientific exploration," said Dr. Roni Avissar, dean of UM's Rosenstiel School.  

Core courses in the MPS in Exploration Science include: Gold to Glory: History & Ethics in Exploration; Citizen and Participatory Science for Exploration; Exploration Technology and Media; and Research Diving.  Electives range from marine policy to broadcast journalism to tropical ecology and meteorology, and beyond.

For more information on the new track, please visit: Exploration Science.

The MPS program, launched in 2010 also offers degree programs in: Aquaculture; Broadcast Meteorology; Coastal Sustainability; Coastal Zone Management; Computational Meteorology and Oceanography; Fisheries Management and Conservation; Marine Conservation; Marine Mammal Science; Oceans and Human Health; Tropical Marine Ecosystem Management; Weather, Climate and Society; and Weather Forecasting. A JD/MPS is also available for students interested in a joint Juris Doctor and MPS in Marine Affairs degree.  All MPS programs at UM are accredited through the National Council of Graduate Schools - Professional Science Master's.   For more information, please visit: http://mps.rsmas.miami.edu/

About the University of Miami
The University of Miami is the largest private research institution in the southeastern United States. The University's mission is to provide quality education, attract and retain outstanding students, support the faculty and their research, and build an endowment for University initiatives. Founded in the 1940's, the Rosenstiel School of Marine & Atmospheric Science has grown into one of the world's premier marine and atmospheric research institutions. The Leonard and Jayne Abess Center for Ecosystem Science and Policy was established in 2006 to create innovative, interdisciplinary initiatives that bridge the gap between science and environmental policy. The Abess Center's goal is to educate the next generation of environmental scientists, policy makers and managers with a strong underpinning of understanding in natural science, social science, and public policy.For more information, please visit www.miami.edu.

MIAMI- April 29, 2013 -- University of Miami (UM) Rosenstiel School of Marine & Atmospheric Science alumna Dr. Jennifer Jurado has been recognized as a "Champion of Change" by the Obama administration.  Jurado, who is the director of the Natural Resources Planning and Management Division in Broward County, was one of 12 people nationwide nominated for this honor.  She was recognized by the White House as a 'Climate Resilience Leader' for her efforts to build climate resilience through regional and local planning. She received her Ph.D. in Marine Biology and Fisheries from UM in 2003, as well as her undergraduate degree in Marine Science in 1997.

Jurado began doing research with Professor Gary Hitchcock while an undergraduate, and went on to complete her Ph.D. on Harmful Algal Blooms in his laboratory. "Jennifer has made a tremendous impact in a fairly short amount of time and is very deserving of this honor. She has applied her knowledge of marine science to forming policy decisions on future sea level rise in South Florida," said Hitchcock.  

Playing a key role in the adoption of a four-county South Florida Regional Climate Change Compact and the formulation of a Regional Climate Action Plan, Jurado has helped to launch a multi-county initiative to address sea level rise and other regional consequences of climate change. 

According to UM Professor John Van Leer, "She has done an amazing job working with the four South Florida county governments to gain unanimous approval for the climate compact and has been key to inserting language in several bills in Tallahassee that make climate change funding possible across our region.  Jennifer has also played a key role in framing the action plan that resulted from the compact."

In 2012, Jurado was recognized by the Florida Engineering Society - Broward County Chapter for Outstanding Service to the Profession.  She is a member of the Broward Water Resources Task Force Technical Team and American Water Resources Association, and past board member with the South Florida Association of Environmental Professionals.

About the University of Miami's Rosenstiel School
The University of Miami is the largest private research institution in the southeastern United States. The University's mission is to provide quality education, attract and retain outstanding students, support the faculty and their research, and build an endowment for University initiatives. Founded in the 1940's, the Rosenstiel School of Marine & Atmospheric Science has grown into one of the world's premier marine and atmospheric research institutions. Offering dynamic interdisciplinary academics, the Rosenstiel School is dedicated to helping communities to better understand the planet, participating in the establishment of environmental policies, and aiding in the improvement of society and quality of life. For more information, please visit www.rsmas.miami.edu.

MIAMI – April 25, 2013 – A new video released by the Consortium for Advanced Research on Transport of Hydrocarbons in the Environment (CARTHE), a project funded by the Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (GoMRI), highlights some of the team's field work at sea and the interconnected modeling systems currently being studied.  The six-minute piece features many of the colorful model animations, and the information being painstakingly studied in order to improve how and where emergency responders are deployed in the event of future spills or at-sea emergencies.

CARTHE from COE ACCMS on Vimeo.

The film also highlights an unprecedented three-week expedition aboard the R/V Walton Smith in the Gulf of Mexico to understand how surface ocean currents near the site of the Deepwater Horizon influence the fate and transport of oil/dispersants, like those from the 2010 spill. This marked the first time that a study of this magnitude, where more than 300 custom-made buoys known as "drifters" were released and five million points of information were collected.

Dr. Roni Avissar, dean of the University of Miami (UM) Rosenstiel School of Marine & Atmospheric Science, Dr. Tamay Ӧzgökmen, Director of CARTHE and UM Professor, Dr. Margaret Leinen, Research Board Vice Chair of GoMRI, and Dr. Charles Wilson, Chief Scientific Officer of GoMRI appear in the film.  The film was produced by Ali Habashi, Director of UM's Arnold Center for Confluent Media Studies.  It was written by Habashi amd Christina Delphus.

The CARTHE program includes twenty-eight principal investigators from fourteen research institutions in eight states. Together these scientists are engaged in novel research through the development of a suite of integrated models and state-of-the-art computations that bridge the scale gap between existing models and natural processes. For more information about CARTHE, please visit www.carthe.org or like us on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/carthe.gomri

The University of Miami's mission is to educate and nurture students, to create knowledge, and to provide service to our community and beyond. Committed to excellence and proud of the diversity of our University family, we strive to develop future leaders of our nation and the world. Founded in the 1940's, the Rosenstiel School of Marine & Atmospheric Science has grown into one of the world's premier marine and atmospheric research institutions. Offering dynamic interdisciplinary academics, the Rosenstiel School is dedicated to helping communities to better understand the planet, participating in the establishment of environmental policies, and aiding in the improvement of society and quality of life. For more information, please visit www.rsmas.miami.edu.

MIAMI – April 18, 2013 – Ocean acidification, which occurs as CO2 is absorbed by the world's oceans, is known to negatively impact a wide variety of marine animals ranging from massive corals to microscopic plankton. However, there is much less information about how fish may be impacted by acidification, should carbon emissions continue to rise as a result of human activities.

In a new study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA, University of Miami (UM) Rosenstiel School of Marine & Atmospheric Science researcher Sean Bignami, along with  National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) scientists Ian Enochs, Derek Manzello, and UM Professors Su Sponaugle and Robert Cowen, report stunning new insight into the potential effects of acidification on the sensory function of larval cobia (Rachycentron canandum). Cobia are large tropical fish that are highly mobile as they mature and are popular among recreational anglers. 

Bignami and the team utilized 3D X-rays (micro-CT scans) similar to what a patient might receive at a hospital to determine that fish raised in low-pH seawater, simulating future conditions, have larger and more dense otoliths (ear stones) than those from higher-pH seawater. Otoliths are distinct calcium carbonate structures within the inner ear of fishes that are used for hearing and balance. The changes resulted in up to a 58-percent increase in otolith mass, and when tested in a mathematical model of otolith function, showed a potential increase in hearing sensitivity and up to a 50-percent increase in hearing range.

"Increased hearing sensitivity could improve a fish's ability to use sound for navigation, predator avoidance, and communication. However, it could also increase their sensitivity to common background noises, which may disrupt the detection of more useful auditory information," said Bignami, who recently completed his PhD in Marine Biology and Fisheries at UM.

The study, a collaboration between UM and NOAA's Ocean Acidification Program at the Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory in Miami, is the first to use micro-CT technology to examine otoliths while still inside the heads of the larval fish.

"This effect of ocean acidification represents a significant change to a key sensory system in fish. Although the ultimate ecological consequences still need to be determined, there is the potential for serious impact on important processes such as larval fish recruitment and fisheries replenishment in this species and perhaps other critical fisheries," Bignami added.

Article: Bignami S, Enochs I, Manzello D, Sponaugle S, Cowen RK (2013) Ocean acidification alters the otoliths of a pan-tropical fish species with implications for sensory function. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA. doi:10.1073/pnas.1301365110

About the University of Miami's Rosenstiel School
The University of Miami is the largest private research institution in the southeastern United States. The University's mission is to provide quality education, attract and retain outstanding students, support the faculty and their research, and build an endowment for University initiatives. Founded in the 1940's, the Rosenstiel School of Marine & Atmospheric Science has grown into one of the world's premier marine and atmospheric research institutions. Offering dynamic interdisciplinary academics, the Rosenstiel School is dedicated to helping communities to better understand the planet, participating in the establishment of environmental policies, and aiding in the improvement of society and quality of life. For more information, please visit www.rsmas.miami.edu.
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MIAMI –April 10, 2013 – Many terrestrial animals are frequently observed scavenging on other animals– whether it is a hyena stealing a lion kill in the Serengeti or a buzzard swooping down on a dead animal. However, documenting this sort of activity in the oceans is especially difficult, and often overlooked in marine food web studies.

In a new study published in PLOS ONE titled, "White sharks (Carcharodon carcharias) scavenging on whales and its potential role in further shaping the ecology of an apex predator" Captain Chris Fallows from Apex Expeditions collaborated with University of Miami (UM) scientists Dr. Neil Hammerschlag and Austin Gallagher, to explore the behaviors of Great white sharks scavenging on dead whales in South Africa. The team documented as many as 40 different sharks scavenging on a carcass over the course of a single day, revealing unique social interactions among sharks.

The study summarized observations based on four scavenging events opportunistically observed over a 10 year period. In each multi-day observation, the team recorded daily evidence of social, aggregative and feeding behaviors observed in the waters off South Africa. They suggest that although the occurrence of coming upon a whale carcass may be sporadic, the shark populations are likely prepared to scavenge on them, and may even rely on their scavenging activities to supplement their regular feeding activities.
"Although rarely seen, we suspect that as white sharks mature, scavenging on whales becomes more prevalent and significant to these species than previously thought," said Hammerschlag, who is director of the R.J. Dunlap Marine Conservation Program at UM.

The team found that sharks showed a clear preference for scavenging on the blubber, probably because these high calorie meals can sustain the sharks for longer periods of time. Interestingly, though, the study also found that sharks showed an initial preference for feeding on the whale's fluke before moving on to feed on the rest of the carcass. The team also found that while scavenging on whales, they ceased hunting and feeding on seals, one of their primary natural prey.

"While scavenging on the whale, the sharks clearly showed a size-based pecking order," said Fallows. "The biggest sharks came right in, targeting areas of highest blubber content, while smaller sharks fed on areas with less blubber or kept their distance from the whale, mostly scavenging on pieces of blubber that drifted away from the carcass."

The paper reveals how the social and size structure of sharks at the carcass appeared to be influenced by environmental patterns. "The cues, such as the oils, emanating from this pulse of food are likely attracting much larger sharks over 4.5 meters from long distances to scavenge," said Gallagher. "These data provide some credence to the hypothesis that large white sharks may be swimming known ocean corridors looking for dead, dying, or vulnerable whales."

"By attracting many large white sharks together to scavenge, we suspect that the appearance of a whale carcass can play a role in shaping the behaviors, movements, and the ecosystem impacts of white sharks" said Hammerschlag. "These patterns may shed some light into the ecology of this often studied - yet still highly enigmatic - marine predator."

White sharks scavenging on whales from R.J. Dunlap Marine Conservation on Vimeo.

About UM and the RJ Dunlap Marine Conservation Program

The University of Miami is the largest private research institution in the southeastern United States. The University's mission is to provide quality education, attract and retain outstanding students, support the faculty and their research, and build an endowment for University initiatives. Founded in 2009, the R.J. Dunlap Marine Conservation Program is a joint program of the Rosenstiel School of Marine & Atmospheric Science and the Leonard and Jayne Abess Center for Ecosystem Science and Policy at the University of Miami. The mission of the R.J. Dunlap Marine Conservation Program is to advance ocean conservation and scientific literacy by combining cutting edge research and outreach activities. For more information or to get involved, please visit www.rjd.miami.edu.

MIAMI — April 10, 2013 — The University of Miami (UM) Rosenstiel School of Marine & Atmospheric Science is proud to announce it is now accepting entries for its annual Underwater Photography Contest.  Since its inception in 2005, the contest has drawn several thousand entrants from across the globe.  The deadline for submitting the images is midnight on Friday, May 17, 2013.

Judged anonymously by a panel of professional photographers and marine scientists, photographs are divided in three separate categories: Fish or Marine Animal Portrait, Macro, Wide Angle, the best University of Miami Student Submission and the Best Overall submission. The top prize is a trip on Blackbeard's Cruises, departing from Freeport, Bahamas. (Trip prizes do not include gratuities, port taxes, Bahamas Underwater National Park Fees, gear rental, etc., and are subject to availability.) There will also be monetary awards for those finishing in 1st, 2nd and 3rd place in each of the categories. Divers Direct, the largest SCUBA retailer in the U.S. is providing the awards for the Student Category.

The underwater photography contest is open to all amateur photographers who earn no more than 20 percent of their income from photography. Eligible photos must not have been published or accepted for publication and must be the original work of the submitter. No pool or aquarium shots will be accepted.

To view past contest winners and complete contest rules, please visit: http://www.rsmas.miami.edu/outreach/underwater-photography/

About the University of Miami's Rosenstiel School
The University of Miami is the largest private research institution in the southeastern United States. The University's mission is to provide quality education, attract and retain outstanding students, support the faculty and their research, and build an endowment for University initiatives. Founded in the 1940's, the Rosenstiel School of Marine & Atmospheric Science has grown into one of the world's premier marine and atmospheric research institutions. Offering dynamic interdisciplinary academics, the Rosenstiel School is dedicated to helping communities to better understand the planet, participating in the establishment of environmental policies, and aiding in the improvement of society and quality of life. For more information, please visit www.rsmas.miami.edu.

MIAMI – April 2, 2013 – Ocean acidification, which occurs as CO2 is absorbed by the world's oceans, is a source of concern for marine scientists worldwide. Studies on coral, mollusks, and other ocean denizens are helping to paint a picture of what the future might entail for specific species, should carbon emissions continue to increase. 

In a new study published in Global Change Biology, University of Miami (UM) Rosenstiel School of Marine & Atmospheric Science researchers Sean Bignami, Su Sponaugle, and Robert Cowen are the first to study the effects of acidification on the larvae of cobia (Rachycentron canandum). Cobia are large tropical fish that spawn in pelagic waters, highly mobile as they mature, and a popular species among recreational anglers.

The team reared cobia in tanks with different levels of CO2 saturation looking for effects on growth, development, otolith (ear stone) formation, swimming ability, and activity level during the vulnerable larval stage of these fish.  They found that cobia showed remarkable resistance to end-of-century acidification scenarios in terms of growth, development, and activity. However, more extreme acidification scenarios caused reduced larval size and a 2-3 day delay in their development. The study also reports a significant increase in otolith size at the most mild acidification conditions reported to date.

"The larval period is a critical stage in the marine fish lifecycle and the ability of cobia larvae to withstand 'business-as-usual' scenarios of ocean acidification provides an optimistic outlook for this species. However, research on this topic is still limited and if our findings on otolith formation are any indicator, then these fish are not entirely resistant to acidification," said Bignami, a Marine Biology and Fisheries PhD candidate at UM. 

The study is the first to report impacts of ocean acidification on a large, pelagic tropical fish species.  "We need additional studies on study how fish, especially those that are ecologically and economically important, react to these environmental changes if we want to find ways to potentially mitigate the effects," Bignami added.

Cobia larvae used in this study were produced from broodstock raised at the UM Experimental Hatchery.

Article: Bignami S, Sponaugle S, Cowen RK (2013) Response to ocean acidification in larvae of a large tropical marine fish, Rachycentron canadum. Global Change Biology 19(4): 996-1006 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.12133

About the University of Miami's Rosenstiel School
The University of Miami is the largest private research institution in the southeastern United States. The University's mission is to provide quality education, attract and retain outstanding students, support the faculty and their research, and build an endowment for University initiatives. Founded in the 1940's, the Rosenstiel School of Marine & Atmospheric Science has grown into one of the world's premier marine and atmospheric research institutions. Offering dynamic interdisciplinary academics, the Rosenstiel School is dedicated to helping communities to better understand the planet, participating in the establishment of environmental policies, and aiding in the improvement of society and quality of life. For more information, please visit www.rsmas.miami.edu.

MIAMI – April 2, 2013 – The Abess Center for Ecosystem Science and Policy at the University of Miami today announced it will be honoring Terrence "Rock" Salt, former Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army, Civil Works, with the 2013 Reitmeister-Abess Center Environmental Stewardship Award. The ceremony will take place on Monday, April 22, 2013 at 4 p.m. at "The Rock" on the University's Coral Gables campus and will also include the inaugural presentation of the Orion Herbs Fieldwork Grant. That grant will go to Karlisa Callwood, a fourth-year Ph.D. student in the Environmental Science and Policy program.

The Reitmeister-Abess Center Environmental Stewardship Award is presented annually to an individual who has made a singularly significant contribution to conservation, particularly related to water resources and/or endangered species. Prior to his position with the Army, Salt served as the Director of Everglades Restoration Initiatives for the Department of the Interior, where he was responsible for assisting in the development and implementation of administration policies supporting various Everglades restoration programs. He was responsible for coordinating the work of all Interior agencies involved in the Everglades restoration effort, and, therefore, is known as "Mr. Everglades" to many.

The new Orion Herbs Fieldwork Grant was created to assist Abess Center graduate students with travel related to their environmental research. Karlisa Callwood is studying the state of the Bahamian spiny lobster fishery and will use the funding to carry out further site visits for her dissertation.

Dr. Kenny Broad, director of the Abess Center, says, "Terrence Salt has been intimately involved in championing the Everglades in multiple capacities for decades, and we are pleased to be able to recognize his untiring efforts on behalf of the South Florida environment, and his career of stewardship, with this award." He adds, "We're also proud to support the work of Karlisa Callwood, part of a new generation of interdisciplinary researchers committed to integrating social and ecological studies."

About Orion Herbs
The mission of the Orion Herbs Co., established in January 1998, is to manufacture and distribute the highest quality supplements, while conducting all aspects of their business with honesty, precision, and professionalism.  For more information, please visit www.orionherbs.com

About the University of Miami
The University of Miami is the largest private research institution in the southeastern United States. The University's mission is to provide quality education, attract and retain outstanding students, support the faculty and their research, and build an endowment for University initiatives. Founded in the 1940's, the Rosenstiel School of Marine & Atmospheric Science has grown into one of the world's premier marine and atmospheric research institutions. The Leonard and Jayne Abess Center for Ecosystem Science and Policy was established in 2006 to create innovative, interdisciplinary initiatives that bridge the gap between science and environmental policy. The Abess Center's goal is to educate the next generation of environmental scientists, policy makers and managers with a strong underpinning of understanding in natural sciences, social science, and public policy.  For more information, please visit www.miami.edu.

Virginia Key, FL – April 2, 2013 -- The University of Miami (UM) Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science is proud to announce that Dr. Cecilia Bitz is the 2013 recipient of The Rosenstiel Award, one of the School's top honors. Dr. Bitz, an associate professor in the Atmospheric Sciences Department at University of Washington, is the 39th recipient of the Rosenstiel Award. Her work focuses on climate and climate change in the high latitudes, especially involving the cryosphere (areas of the Earth covered in the many forms of snow and ice). Dr. Bitz uses a variety of models for her research, from simple, reduced complexity models to sophisticated Earth-system models.

Dr. Bitz has more than 60 refereed papers to her credit. She contributed to the 3rd, 4th and 5th Assessments of the Intergovernmental Panel of Climate Change and is a contributing author to the Snow, Water, Ice and Permafrost in the Arctic (SWIPA) 2011 report. On March 20, 2013 she provided a briefing for congress on Arctic sea ice loss.

Her research group recently published papers about Arctic sea ice predictability and reversibility, as well as the influence of ozone trends on Antarctic climate. She has also investigated global climate change from a geoengineering perspective and worked on understanding climate sensitivity. She traveled to the Greenland Sea with a class as an instructor to observe the record minimum in Arctic sea ice cover recently, as well.

Dr. Bitz currently chairs the advisory board of the NSF Office of Polar Programs and is an active member of the Community Earth System Model project. She served on the National Academy of Sciences Climate Research Committee. Dr. Bitz is currently co-leader of the World Climate Research Program Polar Climate Prediction Initiative and is a member of the American Geophysical Union. She received the Community Climate System Model Distinguished Achievement Award in 2002 in recognition of her contribution to developing the sea ice component of the model. She received her Ph.D. and M.S. from the University of Washington. Her undergraduate B.S. is from the Oregon State University.

"Professor Bitz has made significant contributions to our understanding of the role of polar regions to the climate system, specifically in making improvements to how the properties and behaviors of these critical regions are represented in numerical models," said Dr. Peter Minnett, professor and chairman of Meteorology and Physical Oceanography at UM's Rosenstiel School. "It has been known for over a century that the sea ice in the Arctic would be one of the first sentinels to indicate a climate changing in response to radiative forcing resulting from burning fossil fuels. Recent results from satellite remote sensing reveal the rapid reduction of summer-time Arctic sea ice and confirm the important role of high latitude interactions in the global climate."

"We are very proud to confer the Rosenstiel Award upon a young investigator who is making a significant impact in climate science. This award is a very timely and fitting recognition of Dr. Cecilia Bitz, who has focused her efforts towards the challenge of simulating the Earth climate," added Dr. Roni Avissar, dean of the UM Rosenstiel School, who will present the award at a dinner on April 23.

About the Rosenstiel Award

The Rosenstiel Award honors scientists who, in the past decade, have made significant and growing impacts in their field. It is an award targeted for researchers that are already making outstanding scientific contributions in their early to mid-career stages. The Rosenstiel Award, created through an endowment from the Rosenstiel Foundation, recognizes outstanding scientists for their contributions to marine science and in oceanographically relevant areas of atmospheric science with a $10,000 prize. It is awarded annually to one individual on a rotating basis for achievements in six broad disciplinary areas: marine geology and geophysics; meteorology and physical oceanography; marine and atmospheric chemistry; marine biology and fisheries; applied marine physics; and marine affairs. This year's award to Bitz falls within the discipline of meteorology and physical oceanography.

About the University of Miami's Rosenstiel School

The University of Miami is the largest private research institution in the southeastern United States. The University's mission is to provide quality education, attract and retain outstanding students, support the faculty and their research, and build an endowment for University initiatives. Founded in the 1940s, the Rosenstiel School of Marine & Atmospheric Science has grown into one of the world's premier marine and atmospheric research institutions. Offering dynamic interdisciplinary academics, the Rosenstiel School is dedicated to helping communities to better understand the planet, participating in the establishment of environmental policies, and aiding in the improvement of society and quality of life. For more information, please visit www.rsmas.miami.edu.