Press Conference for 5th Anniversary of the DwH Spill
Media Contact: Lara Wade-Martinez
(813) 974-9060 or (813) 833-1498 (cell)
USF Researchers, Colleagues to Mark 5th Anniversary of Gulf Oil Spill
Media invited to join scientists for discussion on research findings and future issues
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (April 16, 2015) – The University of South Florida’s College of Marine Science, the Florida Institute of Oceanography (FIO) and other colleagues will mark the fifth anniversary of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill with a media availability at 10 a.m. on Monday, April 20.
Scientists will discuss the research conducted in the immediate aftermath of the spill, scientific findings since the disaster and the research questions which remain to be addressed in the years to come. USF’s College of Marine Science complex is located at 1st Street SE and 8th Avenue SE (830 1st Street SE) in St. Petersburg. Reserved parking will be available on site along the south seawall.
Photos and video of research being conducted in the Gulf will be available on April 20 at usf.edu. A live stream of the event will be available here.
Oil samples and sediment core samples will be on display at the event. Immediately following the media availability, tours on board the docked research vessel Weatherbird II will be offered, along with demonstrations of equipment used in oil spill research.
Speakers are expected to include Dr. Steve Murawski and Dr. David Hollander from USF, Dr. Bill Hogarth from FIO, Dr. David Hastings from Eckerd College and Dr. Dana Wetzel from Mote Marine Lab.
The USF College of Marine Science and FIO – a consortium of private and public marine research interests in Florida hosted by USF – have been at the forefront of the Deepwater Horizon research since the blowout of the BP-run well on April 20, 2010. USF scientists were among the first independent researchers to venture into the spill zone, and identified two massive underwater plumes of oil and dispersant particles which remain central to understanding the impact on the Gulf’s health today.
USF’s College of Marine Science has received more than $33 million in research grants related to the spill over the last five years and has led an international coalition of scientists to examine all aspects of the spill and its impact on the complex Gulf ecosystem. The research continues under a $20 million grant from the Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative awarded last year.
The Florida Institute of Oceanography, which was among the first organizations to receive $10 million funding for spill-related science in the immediate aftermath of the disaster, has been designated as the Florida Gulf Coast entity to receive and to competitively distribute a portion of the fines collected from the spill to support scientific research. FIO operates Florida’s marine research vessels, including the R/V Weatherbird II, which has carried scientists to the spill zone on numerous occasions.
Media interested in further detail on oil spill projects in advance of the event are encouraged to visit websites for the Florida Institute of Oceanography; C-IMAGE and the Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative.
The University of South Florida is a high-impact, global research university dedicated to student success. USF is a Top 50 research university among both public and private institutions nationwide in total research expenditures, according to the National Science Foundation. Serving nearly 48,000 students, the USF System has an annual budget of $1.5 billion and an annual economic impact of $4.4 billion. USF is a member of the American Athletic Conference.
