The environment is something that is near and dear to the heart of David Kerstetter, Ph.D. As a marine biologist, researcher and assistant professor at Nova Southeastern University’s Oceanographic Center, his background is a combination of marine fisheries science and public policy. Over the years he has worked to share his knowledge with folks young and old. As a result, he was recently named the 2015 P3 Eco-Challenge Volunteer of the Year by the School District of Broward County, Florida.
This annual award recognizes those students, teachers, schools, and volunteers in the school district for their environmental stewardship. For the past three years, Kerstetter and the students in his lab have been working closely with New River Middle School in Fort Lauderdale, including coastal field lessons at local state parks, lab dissections and other outreach activities. New River Middle is the marine science magnet school for those grades for the county, so the pairing was a match made in the sea! Kerstetter and his team are sharing today’s knowledge with tomorrow’s marine researchers and scientists.