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Marine Research Puts Tampa Bay on the Map
by Mary Kelley Hoppe |
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Tucked away on a spit of land jutting into downtown St. Petersburg's Bayboro Harbor are the Florida Marine Research Institute; USF College of Marine Science; USF Center for Ocean Technology; Florida Institute of Oceanography; Tampa Bay Estuary Program; and, just down the street - the U.S. Geological Survey, which is expanding its Center for Coastal & Watershed Studies. Together, they represent an economic powerhouse, employing more than 800 people and two research vessels, with a combined annual payroll of more than $24 million. Another 125 students study under this star-studded marine tent. Still, the direct economic impact is only a short chapter in a larger story of how USF is parlaying its technical expertise and marine innovations into a boon for economic development. For instance, tiny environmental sensors and instruments, developed by USF's Center for Ocean Technology (COT) to monitor sea life and ocean conditions, are the latest recruits in America's homeland security force. With more than $24 million from the Army, the COT opened a new 8,000-square-foot MEMS test facility in Largo last fall, where it is designing a "lab on a chip" capable of analyzing water and air conditions in hostile environments. MEMS, or microelectromechanical systems, refers to a broad class of miniature "machines" outfitted with tiny gears, switches, hinges and levers that perform numerous functions. The COT also designs and operates a fleet of autonomous underwater vehicles and stationary marine research platforms to house and deploy its sophisticated instrumentation. AUVs outfitted with high-resolution cameras, laser scanners and sensors can comb the ocean floor for mines, keep an eye on activity below the waterline at busy commercial seaports, and monitor for dangerous pollutants introduced by accident or intention. "Two years ago, we couldn't get Enterprise Florida to answer our phone calls," says Betzer. "Today, they're buying two-page ads in New York, Washington, Chicago and Atlanta showcasing our work. It's just another example of USF's impact." Betzer's enthusiasm rises to a fevered pitch as he details the important role MEMS could play in medical advances. In the not too distant future, scientists envision:
And nowhere is the ground more fertile for biotech exploration than Pinellas County, home to 70 percent of the region's medical products manufacturers, which generated nearly $2.1 billion in economic activity in 2002, while supporting more than 10,000 high-wage jobs. "If we can get in there and help these companies, we can set this thing off like a rocket." USF is requesting state support for a second, much larger 140,000-square-foot MEMS facility on the Bayboro campus. That would provide local businesses with the space, the instrumentation and the engineers to prototype medical microtechnology. "They'll be coming in droves, and we'll stimulate the economy in this region to a degree never seen before," says Betzer. "I guarantee it!" Florida Marine Research Institute (FMRI), a division of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), is Bayboro's other anchor tenant, with an equally impressive roster of scientists and accomplishments. Its 278 employees in St. Petersburg include experts in red tide research, marine fisheries, ecosystem assessment and restoration, marine turtle conservation, and geographic information systems. With a budget of about $34 million drawn primarily from saltwater fishing license revenues and conservation trust funds, FMRI conducts applied research statewide, from the Florida Keys to the Panhandle. A key focus is assessing the health of Florida's billion-dollar fisheries. "The whole complex that's evolved is a great example of how private, state and federal groups can interact to make each one better," says FWC Director Ken Haddad. "It's a model of how we can look to the future, not only for marine research, but how the state can do business." Rounding out the 'marine power bloc' at Bayboro are the Tampa Bay Estuary Program, which led a local, state and federal effort to develop a bay restoration and management blueprint that continues to chart the course for bay improvement; Florida Institute of Oceanography, whose research vessels and marine labs serve 10 state universities and two state agencies; and USGS, which has broken ground on a third building that is expected to double the capacity of its coastal studies center. Just south, in Sarasota, is Mote Marine Laboratory, the world's largest center devoted to the study of sharks, and their relatives, the skates and rays. Its acclaimed research team adds significant clout to the region's renown as a hotbed for marine research. Closer by, Eckerd College continues to increase its marine science presence with studies of bottle-nosed dolphins in Tampa Bay. All that explains why Tampa Bay is among the best-studied estuaries in the world. "Tampa Bay is a living laboratory," says Suzanne Cooper, director of the Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council's Agency on Bay Management. "So much of the research conducted right here has benefited bay managers and estuaries across the country." On the Horizon That success breeds success is evident in the agencies eyeing Bayboro as a future home. Among them is NOAA's National Marine Fisheries Service, Southeastern Region, currently headquartered in northeast St. Petersburg. Although plans have not been finalized, the regional office has submitted a budget request to authorize the move, which would bring its 100 employees to the campus. Betzer also hopes to attract Coast Guard research units from other parts of the country. "One person may drag in a whole 'nother roster of companies and investors. We're going to see a revolution here."
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Peter Betzer presides over a waterfront empire that remains one of Tampa Bay's best kept secrets - but not for long. Dean of USF's College of Marine Science, Betzer is the g-force behind the development of the Southeastern United State's largest marine research complex, a veritable breeding ground for scientists and engineers dedicated to the study of oceans, estuaries and coastlines.
