Earthwatch Institute is delighted to announce that it has presented the 2003 Principal Investigator of the Year award to Dr. Kathleen Sullivan Sealey (University of Miami), a marine ecologist with more than 20 years experience working in the Caribbean. Dr. Sullivan Sealey, principal investigator of the Earthwatch-supported Coastal Ecology of the Bahamas project, was recognized for her unique contributions to science and sustainability.
Each year Earthwatch recognizes one principal investigator who makes a particular difference in peoples lives, both Earthwatch participants and local communities. Sullivan Sealey received the award at the Earthwatch Institute Annual Conference, held at the Hyatt Regency in Cambridge, Massachusetts, during a dinner reception on Friday, November 7, 2003.
"Dr. Sullivan Sealey's project in the Bahamas is a great start to modeling land cover patterns and answering important questions about island development," said Dr. Marie Studer, chief science officer at Earthwatch Institute, who presented the award. "She is dedicated to building the capacity of Bahamians to be scientists and stewards of their islands, and is an inspiration to many."
Sullivan Sealey's project involves using LandSat images to model the extent and degree of human alterations to the coastal zone, using field work by Earthwatch volunteers to "ground truth" the accuracy of these satellite images. Her efforts are improving our understanding of the requirements for sustainable development and resource use on the islands.
"Earthwatch has really helped expand the field component of this project that was initially a modeling and remote sensing project looking at coastal land use and change in the Bahamas," said Sullivan Sealey. Before her current project, she was the principal investigator of Earthwatch's Caribbean Conch Fishery project.
"The volunteers have brought many good ideas and insights into the conflicts in coastal restoration and tourism development on small islands. I am amazed at how much work we have accomplished and how important our dataset has been in setting priorities for both coastal conservation and restoration projects."
Amy McPeale, a student fellow who participated on Coastal Ecology of the Bahamas, was one of the many Earthwatch participants who found inspiration in Sullivan Sealey's work and character. "Kathleen Sullivan Sealey has shown me that one person can make a huge impact on the environment, and the world."
Also recognized at the reception dinner were four scientists that received the "Young Scientist" award, part of Earthwatch Young Scientist Initiative to augment support for promising scientists early in their career. Katherine LaCommare (University of Massachusetts, Boston) and Caryn Self Sullivan (Texas A&M University) were presented the award for their research on the West Indian Manatee in Belize.
Dr. Tigga Kingston (Boston University), principal investigator of Malaysian Bat Conservation, and Dr. Shanti Pappu (Sharma Center for Heritage Education), principal investigator of Early Man in India, received the final Young Scientist awards. The Young Scientist Initiative was designed to give more comprehensive support to scientists who may find limited funding elsewhere, such as women, minorities, and researchers from developing countries.
Earthwatch Institute's Annual Conference, titled "Making Connections for a Sustainable Future," drew more than 350 participants, a record attendance, including nearly 100 educators for a special "Educator Track" series of workshops. Attendees enjoyed posters and presentations by 95 Earthwatch- supported researchers from 20 countries around the world, representing research topics from archaeology to zoology.
For information on volunteering on the Coastal Ecology of the Bahamas project, click here
For information on volunteering on the Manatees in Belize project, click here
For information on volunteering on the Malaysian Bat Conservation, click here
For information on volunteering on the Early Man in India project, click here
Earthwatch Institute is an international nonprofit organization which supports scientific field research worldwide by offering members of the public unique opportunities to work alongside leading field scientists and researchers. The Institute's mission is to engage people worldwide in scientific field research and education to promote the understanding and action necessary for a sustainable environment.