Dr. Steven Murawski is the Downtown Partnership/Peter Betzer Endowed Chair of Biological Oceanography at the University of South Florida’s College of Marine Science.  He is a fishery biologist and marine ecologist involved in understanding the impacts of human activities on the sustainability of ocean ecosystems. He has developed approaches for understanding the impacts of fishing on marine fish complexes exploited in mixed-species aggregations. Additionally, his work on impacts of marine protected areas and other management options has formed the scientific basis for resource management regulation both nationally and globally. Such assessments can help inform management regulations to rebuild animal populations from the effects of overexploitation, oil spills and other chemical contaminants, loss of juvenile nursery areas, nutrient enrichment, climate change and other stressors.

Dr. Murawski currently serves as Director and Principal Investigator for the Center for Ocean Mapping and Innovative Technologies (COMIT), a cooperative agreement between the NOAA Office of Coast Survey and the University of South Florida to develop technologies to map undersea ocean and coastal regions.  He was also Director of the Center for Integrated Analysis and Modeling of Gulf Ecosystems (C-IMAGE), funded by grants from the Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative to study effects of the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill. His research interests are varied and center around the theme of acquiring actionable science that can influence public policy and help achieve sustainable marine ecosystems.

Dr. Murawski formerly served as Chief Scientist of the National Marine Fisheries Service and has a long record of achievement in providing scientific information necessary for sustainable use of living marine resources.  He is the recipient of the American Fisheries Society’s Award of Excellence, the Department of Commerce Gold Medal, the Senior Executive Service Meritorious Rank Award, four NOAA Bronze medals and is an elected Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, among many other professional awards.