News Release

FWC red tide expert earns two prestigious awards

December 2, 2008
Contacts:  Carli Segelson, FWC 727-896-8626;
Diane Altsman, Gulf of Mexico Program 228-688-7015;
Patricia Tester, ISSHA 252-728-8792

Dr. Karen Steidinger, of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission's (FWC) Fish and Wildlife Research Institute (FWRI), recently brought home two prestigious awards.  Last month Steidinger accepted the Yasumoto Lifetime Achievement Award in Hong Kong.  In October, she received a second-place 2008 Gulf Guardian Award in the Individual category.

The International Society for the Study of Harmful Algae (ISSHA) recognized Steidinger with the Yasumoto award in recognition of her long and outstanding contributions to harmful algal bloom research and the study of other micro-organisms.

The Gulf of Mexico Program presented the Gulf Guardian Award to honor Steidinger's accomplishments through more than 44 years of red tide research.

Steidinger is so renowned in her field, her fellow scientists named the Florida red tide organism "Karenia brevis" in her honor.

As a marine biologist, author, lecturer, teacher and research leader, Steidinger has generated a wealth of new information to help scientists, agencies and the public understand red tide and its effects on living creatures in the Gulf of Mexico and around the world.  Steidinger also has studied the worldwide distribution, adaptations and general ecology of other microalgae.

"Karen is an icon in the field of harmful algal bloom research and a true Florida treasure," said FWRI Director Gil McRae.  "In addition to her world-renowned scientific accomplishments, she has mentored dozens of outstanding scientists over the past four decades, and she has served as a role model to young people, particularly women, interested in pursuing careers in science."

Since retiring in 2003, Steidinger continues to work as a senior research scientist with FWRI on a contract basis through the University of South Florida.

"Throughout my years of working for the state of Florida, I was fortunate to work on harmful algal blooms, focusing on blooms in Florida waters, because of their impacts on fisheries, the environment and public health," Steidinger said.  "Without the state's Fish and Wildlife Research Institute and the people I worked with, I would not have been able to accomplish what I did during those years."   

The Gulf of Mexico Program initiated the Gulf Guardian Awards in 2000 to recognize and honor businesses, community groups, individuals and agencies that are taking positive steps to keep the Gulf healthy, beautiful and productive.  Underwritten by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the program is a non-regulatory group of federal agencies and representatives of the business and agricultural communities, fishing industry, scientists, environmentalists and community leaders from all five Gulf states.

For more information about the Gulf Guardian Awards and the Gulf of Mexico Program, visit www.epa.gov/gmpo.

Scientists founded ISSHA in 1997 to meet the need for an international program on harmful algae. The society promotes and fosters research and training programs on harmful algae and co-sponsors meetings on that topic at the national, regional and international levels. Visit www.issha.org for more information on the society.

To learn more about FWC red tide research, visit http://research.myfwc.com/.