College of Marine Science Researchers Awarded National Honors

TAMPA, Fla. (June 17, 2009) Three members of USF’s College of Marine Science faculty have recently earned national career honors for their exemplary research accomplishments.

At the recent Society of Sedimentary Geology’s annual meeting in Denver, Gene Shinn, a pioneer in carbonate sedimentology, was awarded the Twenhofel Medal, the society’s highest award. The award is in recognition for outstanding contributions to sedimentary geology. Shinn previously worked at a carbonate geologist with Shell Oil in the 1960s and then with the U.S. Geological Survey for 31 years where he drew international acclaim for his studies of carbonate sediment, tidal flats, coral-reef ecosystems and the effects of transatlantic African dust on corals and human health.

Albert C. Hine, associate dean and professor of geological oceanography, was awarded the Francis P. Shepard Medal for excellence in marine geology. Hine was recognized for his prolific research in the field of coastline studies, carbonate platforms and coral reefs, his scientific exploration and his academic leadership for scores of graduate students.

To honor their career achievements and service, U.S. Rep. C.W. Bill Young earlier this year read into the Congressional Record a tribute to both scientists. Read it at http://www.house.gov/young/speeches/geologists.pdf.

At the same time, their colleague David Mann, has been elected a fellow of the Acoustical Society of America. Mann leads a laboratory which studies marine bioacoustics with a focus on hearing and sound production in fishes and marine mammals, ranging from lobsters to fishes to marine mammals. His recent work has focused studies of the hearing abilities of manatees and dolphins with both captive trained marine mammals, and wild and stranded cetacean. Mann’s goal in his work is understanding how organisms use sound in the natural environment and the constraints the environment poses on communication.

The University of South Florida is one of the nation's top 63 public research universities and one of 39 community-engaged, four-year public universities as designated by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. USF was awarded more than $360 million in research contracts and grants in FY 2007/2008. The university offers 219 degree programs at the undergraduate, graduate, specialist and doctoral levels, including the doctor of medicine. The university has a $1.8 billion annual budget, an annual economic impact of $3.2 billion, and serves more than 46,000 students on institutions/campuses in Tampa, St. Petersburg, Sarasota-Manatee and Lakeland. USF is a member of the Big East Athletic Conference.

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