COOS Executive Director Dr. Jorge Brenner

“GCOOS Current Five-Year Award: Introduction and Partnerships”

Dr. Jorge Brenner has more than 15 years of experience in marine ecology, biodiversity conservation, environmental engineering, geospatial data science, ecological economics, ecological restoration, fisheries sustainability, and climate change risk management.

He obtained his doctorate in Marine Science from the Catalonia Polytechnic University in Barcelona, Spain. His dissertation was focused on mapping and valuing ecosystem services in the Mediterranean coast in a collaboration with the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) and the Gund Institute for Ecological Economics of the University of Vermont. After completing his doctoral degree, he joined the Harte Research Institute for Gulf of Mexico Studies at Texas A&M University – Corpus Christi as a Post-Doctoral Researcher. During the last 10 years, he has served as an Associate Director of Marine Science and Sustainable Fisheries with The Nature Conservancy. He also holds a bachelor’s in science in Marine Biochemical Engineering, and a master’s in Environmental Engineering from the Monterrey Tec Institute.

Throughout his career, Dr. Brenner has led projects and published about biodiversity informatics, strategic conservation planning, migratory transboundary resources, international marine protection initiatives, natural capital sustainability, and risks and adaptation to climate change in social-ecological systems. He has managed environmental projects and research in support of collaborations in the US, Mexico, Cuba and Spain and, since early in his career, has mentored national and international students.

Felimon Gayanilo, GCOOS co-Data Manager

“Where are the Data From the Oil and Gas Industry in the Gulf of Mexico?”

This talk will cover a brief introduction to the Bureau of Safety and Environment Enforcement (BSEE) and the Notices to Lessees and Operators (NTLs) that precipitated the collection of ADCP data. The introductory notes will also cover the transition period from the National Data Buoy Center to GCOOS on the collection and curation of the ADCP data. The current status of the effort and a short presentation of the BSEE/NTL data portal will follow. The talk will culminate with plans to enhance the data services.

Felimon Gayanilo is a Systems Architect/Enterprise IT working on various projects with the Harte Research Institute for Gulf of Mexico Studies, Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi. He has more than three decades of experience in the design, development, and deployment of information systems in local, national and international settings before he joined the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, Canada, in 2000, the University of Miami in 2003, and Texas A&M University in 2012. Gayanilo is a PI/co-PI to several projects funded by the National Academies of Sciences (NAS), National Science Foundation (NSF), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Organization (NOAA), and other private foundations. He served as GCOOS co-Data Manager and was the original architect and developer of the GCOOS data portal, published in 2008, and continues to maintain and upgrade to the present. Gayanilo is a member of many professional organizations and is currently a board member of the Earth Science Information Partners (ESIP), supported by NASA, NOAA, USGS, and 130+ member organizations.

John J. Langan, Senior Engineer and Manager of the Ocean Technology Program at Mote Marine Laboratory

“Mote Marine Laboratory and GCOOS. Research highlights and Lessons Learned post Hurricane Ian”

This presentation will focus mainly on what Mote is currently doing in their research with GCOOS in regards to gliders and the programmable hyperspectral seawater scanners. It will also illustrate the struggles they’ve encountered since Hurricane Ian trying to get their equipment back up and running.

John J. Langan joined Mote Marine Laboratory in 2022 as Senior Engineer/Manager of the Ocean Technology Program, which develops and utilizes various forms of cutting-edge technology in conjunction with a wide range of interdisciplinary scientific goals to solve problems, streamline processes, and monitor water quality in the eastern Gulf of Mexico. He joined Mote from Florida Gulf Coast University, where he most recently served as an adjunct professor in the Environmental Engineering Department. He received his B.S. in Applied Science and Technology from Thomas A. Edison State College in 2011 and his M.S. in Unmanned Systems from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in 2016.

Dr. Stephan Howden, University of Southern Mississippi

Physical oceanographer Dr. Stephan Howden will talk about the University of Southern Mississippi’s Central Gulf of Mexico Ocean Observing System and the ocean science and monitoring efforts it is conducting as part of GCOOS  with buoys, uncrewed maritime systems and high frequency radars.

Dr. Stephan D. Howden is an Associate Professor in the Department of Marine Science at the University of Southern Mississippi, where he has directed the Central Gulf of Mexico Ocean Observing System since 2003.  Howden has been involved with what became the GCOOS since 2003.

Dr. Tony Knap, Texas A&M University’s (TAMU) Geochemical and Environmental Research Group (GERG)

Dr. Anthony Knap is the Director of GERG at TAMU, Professor of Oceanography and the holder of the James Whatley Endowed Chair for Geosciences. Prior to coming to Texas, he was responsible for developing the Bermuda Institute for Biological Sciences (BIOS) from a small biological station into a world-renowned center on oceanographic research.

He has published more than 200 papers and book chapters on ocean chemistry and biogeochemistry, oil pollution and other marine pollutants, ocean observations, risk assessment of climate change, and oceans and human health. He has more than 18,500 science citations.

Knap and colleagues started the Risk Prediction Initiative — a partnership between the re-insurance industry and climate scientists as well as the International Center for Ocean and Human Health. He recently served on the National Academy of Science Gulf of Mexico Advisory Board for a three-year term, and is a Member of the International Advisory Board for the Institute of Oceanology of National Academy of Sciences of China, Member of Interdisciplinary Faculty of Toxicology, a member of the Texas One Gulf Leadership Committee for the Restore Act, member of the Advisory Board for the Energy Institute of Texas A&M University and recently has been appointed the Director of the Applied Mass Spectrometry Core of Texas A&M University.