Today we have a group of scientists from the Institute for Marine Remote Sensing (IMaRS) at
University of South Florida to show their research work in Tampa Bay. IMaRS is perhaps the
only research group in the world that uses satellite remote sensing operationally and effectively
in near real-time to monitor the coastal ocean. In the past few years IMaRS has published more
than 100 research articles in professional journals, and more technical reports and conference
presentations. IMaRS is being recognized as one of a few leading institutions in remote sensing
and modeling. The presentation will be given by Dr. Liang Wang.
Dr. Liang Wang graduated in applied hydrology (1982, Engineering Bachelor) and river,
estuarine and coastal engineering (1988, Ph.D.) from East China Technical University of Water
Resources in Nanjing, China. After graduation he has been a scientist and also an engineer for 15
years in several leading institutions to work on river, estuarine and coastal processes, sediment
transport, shoreline protection, waterway and channel regulation, coastal and ocean circulation
with numerical and physical modeling, and has published numerous scientific research papers.
He is currently working at USF on assessment of coral spawning transport in the western
Caribbean Sea by coupling numerical modeling and remote sensing. He is also conducting
similar research in Tampa Bay.
Dr. Chuanmin Hu is Executive Director of IMaRS. He earned his Ph.D. in applied physics from
the University of Miami, specializing in marine optics and remote sensing. He has more than ten
years experience in all aspects of coastal remote sensing and modeling, from instrument
development, measurement protocol, algorithm development, data processing, to applications of
remote sensing to address coastal problems and to help coastal resource managers. He has been
principal and co-principal investigator for many projects funded by the US NASA, NOAA,
USGS, Florida DEP, and the US Mineral Management Service. His research has led to numerous
publications and three joint press releases from the US NASA, NOAA, and other agencies. He is
being recognized as one of the best coastal remote-sensing scientists in the world.
Dr. Frank Muller-Karger has a schedule conflict this afternoon. Dr. Muller-Karger is professor in
marine science at USF and is also the founder of IMaRS. He is a national and international leader
in remote sensing, coastal management, and ocean policy. He has served the US NASA as
program scientist, and has been nominated by President Bush as a US commissioner on ocean
policy. He is a panel member of various national and international organizations, including the
US National Board for Ocean Studies. His research focuses on carbon cycling, red tides,
sediment resuspension and transport.
Dr. Christopher Moses received his undergraduate and Masters degrees in geology from Baylor
University in Waco, Texas where his work focused on carbonate sedimentology and
geomorphology. He earned his Doctorate in marine geology at the University of Miami,
Rosentsiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science, one of the top schools in the world for
marine science. His doctoral research focused on stable isotope geochemistry and climate
variability. His fieldwork sites have included the Florida Keys, Jamaica, the Cape Verde Islands,
the Bahamas, and several other Caribbean islands. In addition to his academic experience, he
has worked for ExxonMobil, as well as consulting for the U.S. Navy and Perigee Environmental.