GERS 2012 Keynote speaker: Dr. Blake Schaeffer

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  • From Mobile Regional Airport
  • From I-10 Eastbound (GPT)
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  • From I-65
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Blake Schaeffer earned his PhD in Marine Science from North Carolina State University studying harmful algal bloom ecology. He then served in two post-doctorate positions. The first was a NASA funded project with the University of North Carolina at Wilmington to investigate the impacts of El Nino/La Nina cycles on ecosystem biodiversity in Galapagos, Ecuador. The second post-doctorate was with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency quantifying optical properties related to the Gulf of Mexico hypoxic zone. He is currently a research ecologist at the EPA, and his focus is on the use of satellite remote sensing technology to monitor water quality.

His research interests broadly include deriving water quality parameters in coasts, estuaries, and lakes using satellites such as SeaWiFS, MODIS, MERIS, and HICO on the International Space Station. Field efforts have included the deployments of autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) within state waters, Remote Environmental Monitoring Units (REMUS) in estuaries, boat surveys, and moorings to measure optical properties.