St. PETERSBURG, Fla. (Aug. 1, 2017) – The American Geophysical Union (AGU) has named USF College of Marine Science Associate Professor Don Chambers as one of its 2017 Fellows in recognition of his exceptional scientific achievements.
Chambers, a physical oceanographer who specializes in studying sea level rise and the earth processes involved in climate changes, is one of 61 new AGU Fellows from 10 countries. The 2017 class of Fellows will be recognized during the AGU’s Honors Tribute held in December in New Orleans.
“AGU Fellows are recognized for their outstanding contributions to scholarship and discovery in the Earth and space sciences. Their work not only expands the realm of human knowledge, but also contributes to the scientific understanding needed for building a sustainable future,” AGU President Eric Davidson, said in a statement released by the organization.
Don Chambers, PhD, specializes in studying sea level rise and the earth processes involved in climate change.
Chambers specializes in using satellite observations such as radar altimetry and satellite gravimetry to better understand ocean dynamics. His primary research focus is on quantifying and understanding sea level variability, with a focus on separating natural climate variability from climate change driven by human activities. His work focuses on the processes that cause sea level change.
Chambers has conducted research as part of significant national and international projects, including serving as a member of several NASA satellite science teams and as a current member of the NASA Ocean Surface Topography and Gravity Recovery & Climate Experiment (GRACE) science team. He is one of four U.S. scientists to serve on the joint NASA/European Space Agency Gravity Constellation Science Team. He has been a member of U.S. Climate Variability and Predictability Program and is currently a lead author on the latest climate assessment by the United Nation's Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).
“Being recognized as a Fellow of the AGU is one of the greatest distinctions that can be bestowed upon a geoscientist. I am honored to have my name listed among some of the greatest earth scientists of the past and the present,” Chambers said.
He joined USF’s faculty in 2009 afterspending 13 years on the research staff of the Center for Space Research at University of Texas at Austin, where he also earned hisdoctorate in aerospace engineering.
Chambers is one of only two AGU Fellows from USF. The other, also from the College of Marine Science, is Distinguished University Professor Robert Byrne, a seawater chemistry expert who was named a fellow in 2012.
-Story by Vickie Chachere, USF Research and Innovation, and photo courtesy of College of Marine Science