2007 (PDF) - Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science ...

Dean’s Message
Since its inception in the 1940’s, Rosenstiel
School scientists have been fascinated by
Earth’s ability to adapt to change, time
and time again. Be it shifts in marine
biodiversity in the aftermath of a hurricane,
the formation of new landscapes following
an earthquake or volcanic eruption, or
the evolution of a species over millions of
years, our planet has always found a way
to mitigate natural stressors through an
unending cycle of dynamism. It is this quest
to understand the dynamics of our “Blue
Planet” that has fueled the growth of the Rosenstiel School, and
continues to propel us today.
Understanding The Planet
Our scientists and students are intent on deciphering the systems
and processes that impact our planet. In an effort to improve lives
and build a sustainable future for generations to come, our 100
talented faculty members, 141 research staff, and 183 graduate
students are breaking new ground each day in hopes of unlocking
some of Earth’s long kept secrets.
Proven track records and innovative scientific studies make
Rosenstiel faculty members extremely competitive in the peerreviewed
grants environment. They receive approximately half of
the grants for which they apply, which is an impressive 20 percent
above the national average. Within the last five years our researchers
have garnered grants from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration (NOAA), the National Aeronautics and Space
Administration (NASA), the National Institutes of Health (NIH),
and the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD), among others. In
fact, their efforts have consistently placed the Rosenstiel School
among the Top 10 National Science Foundation/Geosciences
(NSF/GEO) funded institutions in the nation.
It’s no wonder that our interdisciplinary approach to research
and education attracts some of the best marine and atmospheric
science students from around the world. In 2007, applications for
graduate admission to the Rosenstiel School increased six percent,
a testament to the quality of our programs, as well as the relevance
our research has in today’s society.
Rosenstiel School graduate students are frequently the recipients of
coveted awards and fellowships in scientific research. While at the
School they conduct important studies and participate in valuable
fieldwork in marine and freshwater environments around the globe.
In 2007, the Rosenstiel School conferred a total of 47 degrees,
which is about 24 percent higher than our ten-year average number
of students per class over the last ten years.
The University of Miami enrolled an unprecedented 290
undergraduate students in Marine Science, Marine Affairs and
Meteorology in fall 2007. In a precedent-setting move, University
of Miami President Donna E. Shalala approved the transfer of the
undergraduate marine science program from the College of Arts
and Sciences to the Rosenstiel School, effective fall 2008. The shift
is part of an effort to provide greater access to the School’s graduate
and professional level scientific research earlier in a student’s
academic career and to offer students a bachelor’s degree conferred
by one of the nation’s top-rated marine schools.
Forming Forecasts & Policy
As one of the premier institutions for research into hurricane
development and intensification, as well as the study of
atmospheric dynamics, our work is inherently linked to national
policy. Through our sophisticated modeling, and the images
acquired by our state-of-the-art Center for Southeastern Tropical
Advanced Remote Sensing (CSTARS), we are supplying important
decision-support information to government agencies, and helping
to inform policies that can safeguard human life.
Throughout this Annual Report we highlight several of the
collaborations the School has established with government entities,
non-profit organizations, private and public agencies, and other
academic institutions. Sponsored funding in 2007 reached $47.9
million, an increase of 3.7 percent over the previous year, despite an
extremely competitive funding environment.
The University of Miami is making tremendous strides in enriching
its research capabilities. Our scientists are actively engaged in the
University’s newly-announced Center for Computational Science
which will create a valuable high performance computing core, and
serve as a catalyst to enable greater interdisciplinary collaborations.
This added data capability, when supplemented with the fiber
optic network provided by the Florida LambaRail, will provide
Rosenstiel scientists with direct connectivity to numerous domestic
and international research networks for the transfer of critical
knowledge about planetary processes.
The Rosenstiel School is also joining forces with other schools,
colleges and divisions within the University of Miami to work in
an increasingly multidisciplinary manner. This approach affords
faculty members and students access to broader perspectives
and greater creativity in trying to solve today’s most pressing
environmental issues. One sterling example of this is the Leonard
and Jayne Abess Center for Ecosystem Science and Policy,
which brings together university-wide resources to help promote
informed policy making, and supports science-based environmental
management for the future.
Sharing The Knowledge
With nearly 60 percent of the world’s populations living within
75 miles of a coastal area, understanding the interactions between
communities and the ocean has never been more important. The
Rosenstiel School has an active outreach program that provides
local students, teachers and members of the community with
the latest information to help them become more aware of their
natural surroundings. Programs range from our popular Sea
Secrets lecture series, which this year expanded beyond Miami to
Naples, to campus tours for high school students, participation in
community-based events, and a wide variety of scientific training
sessions for youth and teachers.
Over the next several decades, the School’s work will be essential
to improving how well we can forecast future states of the Earth
system, as well as observe it and validate the underlying models
that are currently in place. Regardless of whether these models are
physical, biological, chemical, or biogeochemical in origin, they are
the cornerstones of the sensible policy and management approaches
that will affect future generations.
Our distinguished faculty, highly-regarded researchers and
exceptional students are poised to tackle the emerging
environmental issues that affect our lives. Their ongoing research,
aided by the latest tools and technologies, will become increasingly
imbedded in Earth system models and help to improve our
understanding of this dynamic planet.
Sincerely,
Otis B. Brown, Ph.D.
Dean
University of Miami
Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science
“The truth of the matter is that this field of science is inextricably linked to our daily life and
that of future generations. Climate variability and natural disasters are taking a significant toll
on our economy, our environment, and our well-being. And that is why we must sustain the Earth
observations that underpin national preparedness and response.”
- Otis B. Brown, Ph.D., testifying before The U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and
Transportation, Space, Aeronautics, and Related Sciences Subcommittee on March 7, 2007.
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Photo credit: NASA
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